Peace, Good Will Toward Men
We need to be reminded that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. We must keep our mind’s eye focused on the target that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
There are four reasons to keep excited about walking in fellowship with him. The first is that we have been forgiven. We have been wrapped in the righteous robes of Jesus Christ. The second is character. His Character is the power in our lives to do that which he has called us to do for he has infused us with his spirit… the spirit of God in Christ in us the hope of glory. The third is purpose… we have been called holy, set apart for the purpose intended by the designer. Our life is significant because of what he made us in Christ Jesus to deliver the message and to be the message. The fourth is security… for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which he’s committed to me against that day of judgement. The fifth is Peace. Jesus said, “my peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you… let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.”
Isaiah 9 says, “Unto us a child is born and his name shall be called… Prince of Peace and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” There is no peace without the prince of peace. This world is full of chaos and confusion, turmoil, tribulation, strife, and contention. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. Peace is the solution to confusion… it is the absolute end of strife and contention between God and man. We are no longer at war with God and his righteousness. For God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. On the first Christmas day, God sent his only begotten son, born of a virgin so that we could be reconciled to our heavenly father. According to Ephesians 2:14-18, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
Each moment in time is a point of decision… either to trust God and allow his peace to reign in our hearts, or to succumb to the confusion of the world.
Jesus said, “I have not come to bring a peace treaty with the evil spiritual powers of this earth, but to bring a sword to separate belief from unbelief… to set believing members of a household against the unbelievers. For the word of God is alive and powerful, and is sharper than a two edged sword to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and is a discerner between the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The Word of God separates righteousness from unrighteousness and believing from unbelieving. The sword of the word of God must first separate the wretched sinful nature of the flesh from the righteous nature of the spirit of God in Christ in us. If we live in the light as he is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
God’s purpose for trials is to drive us away from the world and back to Christ. Our hearts must first be broken in order for God to heal us by reconciling us back to himself through the righteous payment of the blood of Jesus Christ. Sin convicts us for he who knoweth to do righteousness and doeth it not, to him this is sin. Like the prodigal son, the point of repentance, of turning around, is when we realize that we are living in the pig pen of this world and say, “I will arise and go unto my father.” Every moment is a point of repentance: to turn from the sin nature of the flesh and the illusionary enticements of the world and to run back to our Father’s loving embrace. He has called us to live “in the eye of the hurricane.” Our comfort is that in the midst of the storms of life, Jesus says, “peace be still.”
To maintain the peace of God, blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of waters. His leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches… abide in me and I in you and he who abides in me shall bear much fruit.”
Therefore, be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye have been called in one body, and be ye thankful.
As the angel said to the shepherds on a Judean hillside on that first Christmas day, “unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord”… And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael