Peace!

Thousands of people in this world profess to be happy without God. But if we could be truly happy and moral without Jesus, then why did he come? He came because that kind of happiness and peace is only superficial. Jesus Christ came to "bring... a sword" through every kind of peace that is not based on a personal relationship with Himself. (Oswald Chambers)

[I wrote this around the holidays last year.]

People love to talk about peace around the holidays. And it's very fitting considering the celebration of the first Christmas involves a proclamation of peace. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 1:14) Peace in the Bible encompasses so much more than these words to the shepherds over 2000 years ago, and it would do us well to consider the big picture. How often I fail to live in light of these truths! So, as a popular song communicates, "I'm talkin' to me..." Let's go back to the words of Isaiah, hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) Fast forward to the time of Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Zacharias (John the Baptist's parents). Listen to the incredible words of Zacharias. They bring so much hope.

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. 'And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.'” (Luke 1:67-80 NKJV)

How incredible it would have been to be alive during this time, when the Jewish people saw the prophesies they believed for so long fulfilled before them! I love these words... "Might serve Him without fear... knowledge of salvation... remission of sins... Through the tender mercy of our God... give light to those who sit in darkness... guide our feet into the way of peace." There's peace again. I love God's topsy-turvy Kingdom, where things are not what's expected. The Jews expected political peace and liberation from Rome, yet Jesus Christ brought spiritual peace. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." (Romans 5:1-2). In Philippians 4:9, we are reminded that God is the "God of peace." In the Amplified Bible, Colossians 3:15 says this, "And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]." Imagine! Christ's peace acting as umpire in our hearts! The gospel if called the "gospel of peace" in Ephesians 6:15, and if Jesus, the manger, and the shepherds has never been more real to you than Santa Clause, the Christmas season is the best time to realize it's significance for your life. It's good news! It's what God did for us! "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!' ” (Isaiah 52:7) It's for all the people. (Luke 2:10)