A Time of Peace
Peace on Earth
In this second week of Advent, we are celebrating Jesus and the Peace that is found in knowing Him.
Through the introduction of sin into the world chaos ensued plunging all mankind into turmoil and banishment from the presence of God into a life filled with guilt and shame and wandering in darkness and confusion. But, and this is a big but. Jesus Christ the newborn Son of God entered the world on that first Christmas day and began inaugurating a Kingdom filled with peace. This gentile babe in a manger began His wonderful reign of grace and peace in a humble feed trough in Bethlehem. This lowly child grew up to be the triumphant King of Kings by destroying the works of darkness and exercising his dominion over sin and death that covers the world. He is Immanuel, God with us, the Prince of Peace.
I think we all have some idea of what peace is and we want more of it. However, peace is not the absence of problems but the internal security that everything will work out according to the plan God has for us. Peace is what Jesus offers us through his life and his death. He has given us an assurance, a persuasion, a faith that all things work for our good because he loves us. Things did not look to be working out to good, at least in the eyes of His followers as he was led like a lamb to the slaughter to the cross. Throughout his life on earth, he touched and healed the bruised and broken, he brought comfort to the harassed and hassled, he calmed and quieted raging storms with his voice, bringing peace to those who would listen to and trust him.
King David said in one of his psalms…. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.
There is something about meditating or taking time to look back over your life and pondering on the goodness of God. When we take a moment to do so, Jesus releases peace, and his kingdom is spread throughout our hearts and souls giving us and abiding assurance that He will do “it” again. “It” being, taking care of this situation just has he has all the others in the past. If you haven’t lived long enough to have seen the goodness of God, which I highly doubt, read or remember all the bible stories you have heard and dare to believe that Jesus will do it again!
I will leave you with one final scripture to read and meditate on and bid you a time of peace from the presence of King Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT - 6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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.
May you experience the Prince of Peace as you turn toward heaven this Christmas season.
~pastor Tim
How can I pray for you?