Waiting for Peace
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He will be named…Prince of Peace
He will be named…Prince of Peace
For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
We wait for peace. This is what most of the world desires to have…peace with men, peace with God or a god; or peace with no god at all. We want to be able to live our lives the way we desire, pursuing and enjoying what we love and have peace in doing so. We want to have peace to worship what and/or whom we want, when we want, where we want and how we want. We want the peace to express our why and find out why.
We demand and defend our rights and freedoms because we believe they ensure our peace and the pursuit of peace. But when those rights and freedoms are suspended or taken away, then our peace is in danger. People leave their homelands in the pursuit of freedom because it will lead to having peace. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom, but more so a symbol of a ‘god of peace’ living in the land of America.
What is the price for peace? Belief. Belief in an ideal, a thought, a plan that will bring about security, prosperity and over all well-being to me, to you to everyone. People will give up just about anything to have and experience peace. Mask up, keep your distance and get a shot in your arm will bring peace and safety to our land.
The Bible tells us though that peace, “perfect peace”, that surpasses all human comprehension and understanding, is only attained through one person, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.
For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross — whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
What one pays for peace is always the currency of belief.
I love Christmas for many reasons - the gathering of family, friends, food, putting up the Christmas tree, decorations and lights; it literally is my favorite time of the year. Why? What is the foundation of my favortism? It is the celebration and remeberance that our Prince of Peace was born. God choose to become born of woman, moved into the neighborhood, to save me and my neighbors, to bring and offer peace to man in Jesus.
Peace in a Person
Over 2000 years ago people were doing what people are doing still this day, and will do so in years to come, looking for peace in a person. Whether it be a King, a President, a PM, a celebrity or religious personality…we desire a savior to lead us to peace.
Ephriam and Damascus pursued peace in an alliance against Assyria by attempting to assassinate the King of Judah, Ahab and replace him with their guy, so they could go to war. The price…belief in man and devastation. What peace really cost and required was trusting and following God, Yahweh.
Man continues to make the wrong currency payment today. Believe in yourselves! We are in this together! We can do this!
All the people— Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria —will know it. They will say with pride and arrogance: “The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with cut stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.” The Lord has raised up Rezin’s adversaries against him and stirred up his enemies.
We will rebuild! We will defy the living God and do it our way! We will establish our own peace. We will make ourselves safe and secure. Man always promises to make one safe, secure and prosperous by man. Peace is not capable by man, unless he is led and follows the LORD’s ways.
The people did not turn to Him who struck them; they did not seek the Lord of Hosts. So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail, palm branch and reed in a single day.
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.
You and I may have a plan for today, but we will walk in the LORD’S determination tomorrow.
King Ahab had a plan to deny God, but God delieverd Jesus, by the people, for the people. King Herod had a plan to kill Jesus, but God determined Jesus would make the cross, by the people, for the people. The kings of this world seek to stop Christmas, but God delievers the peace of a “star”, a Christmas Star, to remind the people of the hope that we have in Jesus.
Jesus will be a King whose:
The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.
LORD Jesus:
Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our work for us. Yahweh our God, lords other than You have ruled over us, but we remember Your name alone.
What are you waiting for at Christmas?
Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!
Christmas is the birth of Peace on earth.
Christ is the Peace who brings peace to our souls.