Peace, peace, wonderful peace

As we celebrate the second week of Advent the focus is on Peace. 

Peace is also a fruit of the Spirit which is available to all followers of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah prophesied the birth of the Messiah with these words.

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7

Although Jesus is prophesied to be the Prince of Peace, He himself said that He did not come to bring peace.

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:32-39

He basically said that His teachings would turn unbelievers against those who believe - causing division. He also said that His followers would have to love Him more than anyone else. As believers in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He is our master and the one we will have to answer to for our actions. He should take first place in our hearts and receive all of our devotion.

The angels announced His birth with these words, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

Since we have accepted God's gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, His favor is now resting on us and the peace we have within us is different from the peace that the world understands. The world sees peace as an absence of war, but the peace that we have through our belief in Christ Jesus is much more than just a truce or an agreement between people to bury the hatchet.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers in Philippi when two women in the church had some sort of disagreement, "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

The peace that Jesus brought to earth defies understanding and can be accomplished only through Him. God sent Jesus to earth to reconcile mankind to Himself and that peace was accomplished through the blood of Jesus.

The peace of Christ is available to us but it is something that we must seek, we must pursue peace and then we are to let it rule in our hearts remembering that we (Christians) are all one body. When we let the Spirit of God prompt us to be obedient, the peace we receive from God flows through us like a river.