the Prince of Peace

Do you have something in your life that you wish was different?  Some of us love this time of the years.  But others really cannot enjoy this season due to the events of the past, recent or years ago.  Maybe something has happened this year that is making this year crazy.  Losing a loved one is of the things that makes the season difficult and hard to deal with.  Also this season is a busy, chaotic time of the year.  Instead of peace it is full of anxiety.

Who could you reach out to that is living without the peace God offers?  When we have God’s peace, greater things can happen in our lives.  Let God give you, restore your and strengthen your peace.

Financial issues also remove peace from our holiday.  Is that true for you?  For most of us it is.  Even in the best of situations the stress can get to us.

Isaiah 9:6 NLT

For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.
 And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I hope at least during church each week you’d have some peace.  Church is often a place that is calming.  There is something settling about being at church and being with the people you worship and serve with.  We can find peace.  But where is Jesus and His peace at other times in our week?

Luke 2:10-14 NASB

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, 
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

That wasn’t much of a peaceful time.  The shepherds had led their sheep to a quiet place for the night.  The day was over.  Then, out of nowhere, angels and a bright light show up.  That happening took away any peace they might have had even with the message of eternal peace headed their way and ours.

Like when you learn you are pregnant, and it wasn’t planned.  Doesn’t sound like much peace.  If that happened at my house, I would be getting my gun and headed to see the boy who… you get the point.  The same was true for the mother of Jesus who at 14 or so years old was pregnant.  There’s no peace.  How about 9 months pregnant and on a donkey?  Not a comfortable or peaceful place.  I’ve taken Julie to the hospital a few times when she was pregnant and ready for some help and some peace.  But when Mary shows up in Bethlehem there is no room other than a barn, the leader of the world around them was challenged and decided to kill all the baby boys.  That is not peace.  But the Prince of Peace was born, and innocent babies where being killed.

Fast forward to our day. There is tension everywhere.  No peace.   People are stressed out all the time.  Christian marriages have no peace.  Just as many Christians are divorcing.  We are making more money, but there is less peace.  Turn on the news, and there is all kinds of things going on.  No peace.

If Jesus is the prince of peace, did He fail?  Have we missed Him?  The answer is simply that we need the real prince of peace in our lives.  Doing something outside of God’s peace will not experience his peace.  Only when we are under the Lordship of Christ can we get His peace.  He can even remove his peace.  Jesus is the prince of peace.

John 14:27 NASB

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled nor let it be fearful.

“My peace I give to you”, Jesus said, and he meant that the one who is in charge gives peace.  It is like the expert telling you it going to be ok.  When a doctor consoles us, we believe them.  When the plumber fixes the pipes, we are confident it is fixed.  An expert gives you peace.

If you don’t have peace, maybe you are living outside of Jesus.  If you don’t have peace, maybe you aren’t doing things His way.

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

We can and must tell God everything.  When we trust Jesus, we have His peace.  Even in pain, God is good.  Leaning on God brings peace.  HONESTLY, God is good … all the time.  The peace of God is something that goes way past what we understand.  Sometimes when life is hard we learn how good His peace is.

Ephesians 2:13-14a NASB

But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He himself is our peace…

He is peace.  He is our peace.  My prayer is that we will know the prince of peace, and that His peace will change our lives.  May our lives lead others this Christmas season to know that in the middle of stress there can be peace, in the times of chaos that there is help, and when everything seems doomed that God is still in control.

May God give us real peace this Christmas season!