20 December 2020

Christmas and Peace

Luke 2:25-29 (NKJV) “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to your word”

Luke 2:14 (KJV) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) “For 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Even though we have all sinned, we have peace with God through Jesus. Peace is not determined by our circumstances. We can experience turmoil and pain yet still have peace through Him. The primary peace that Jesus came to bring is peace between mankind and God. When we submit to the lordship of the Prince of Peace, the eternal peace that Jesus brings will be present within us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit whom He sends to all who put their faith in Him. Paul instructs us as believers to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts"

Colossians 3:15 (ESV) “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15 (NCV) “Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body to have peace. Always be thankful.”

John 14:27 (NKJV) “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.”

True peace comes only when you know that God is in control. No matter what the situations around you look like, God is going to be there, always!

Isaiah 41:10 (GNT) “Do not be afraid—I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you.”

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. - C. S. Lewis

“The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity--hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory--because at the Father's will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross.” J. I. Packer

All of this to ensure our Peace.