Luke
2:14 “Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Michael writes this week, The Christmas message starts with
the angel's proclamation: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and
good will toward men”. Jesus came to bring peace to a world that was dead in
trespasses and sins. We live in a fallen world without dignity, honor, and
righteousness; without God and without hope. A world of darkness is a
difficult place to develop relationships. There is so much ill will in a
world of darkness that it breaks trust among men and women. The world
promises peace, but it's only a fleeting and temporary peace. In a fallen
world, peace based on circumstances is as fragile as the next unkind
word.
Isaiah had prophesied many years before the birth of Jesus that "He shall be called the Prince of Peace." Peace is the end of all strife and stems from contention between God and man. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. The angel's Christmas proclamation was that Jesus came to bring a peace treaty from His Heavenly Father. In the midst of the raging storm Jesus said, "Peace, be still." Even the winds and rain obeyed Him. Jesus came to bring peace by reconciling God to mankind. Peace is the result of bringing opposing factions together based on a common bond of unity. Jesus said, "You won't have peace unless you are men of good will." In order to have peace, we must subjugate our will to His will. Ultimately peace is the result of making His will our will.
Isaiah had prophesied many years before the birth of Jesus that "He shall be called the Prince of Peace." Peace is the end of all strife and stems from contention between God and man. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. The angel's Christmas proclamation was that Jesus came to bring a peace treaty from His Heavenly Father. In the midst of the raging storm Jesus said, "Peace, be still." Even the winds and rain obeyed Him. Jesus came to bring peace by reconciling God to mankind. Peace is the result of bringing opposing factions together based on a common bond of unity. Jesus said, "You won't have peace unless you are men of good will." In order to have peace, we must subjugate our will to His will. Ultimately peace is the result of making His will our will.
John
14:27 “Peace I leave with
you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
The peace of Jesus Christ is different from the peace offered
by the world. Peace according to the world is the absence of war. However
peace according to the Word of God is the result of making the Prince of Peace
lord of your life. This is the type of peace that Jesus prayed about in
the Garden of Gethsemane, "not my
will but thine be done." Peace is the result of reconciling our
will with His will. The peace of God transcends circumstances and
situations. Peace comes not from external things, rather peace comes from
the inside because it is Christ who dwells in us. God sent His Son Jesus
Christ to bring a peace treaty from the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus came to
reconcile the separation between God and mankind, for He who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf
that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus said,
"Come to me all you who are weary
and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
Isaiah
prophesied about the advent of our Lord: “Unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given, and the government
shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counselor, the Mighty of God the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
The message of the Christmas season is for us to deliver the same message of
peace that the Angels said on that first Christmas. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is
Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will
toward men!”
May God richly bless you,
Merry Christmas!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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