Pastor's Corner: Let the Peace of God Rest In Your Heart

The angel told the Shepherds in Luke 2: 14 “ Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” This year has been anything but peaceful for many of us. People have lost their jobs and are not able to make their payments on houses and cars which are often things that we feel we need to experience peace. I am not making light of jobs, houses, cars and other material things because they can bring real peace to our day. Just remember how you feel when you go out and your car won’t start. You know what I’m talking about. Something like this can make or break our day and rob our peace, if we let it.

Now this peace that the angels were talking about is Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah spoke of the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. I don’t think that this peace is connected or based on anything that we can control.

This peace goes so much deeper and is described by Paul in his writings as a deeper peace that transcends all understanding. Romans 5:1 says Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This peace is not based on anything that we do, but completely on what Jesus, the Prince of Peace, has done for us.

Paul describes the division between God and man in the first few chapters of Romans. He tells us that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. He then tells us that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. The peace found in Jesus encompasses “peace with God”, but includes when we have peace with God and peace in all the other areas of life. Peace with God helps us rest in the assurance of knowing God can handle any situation we might find ourselves in. Jesus and the disciples found themselves in the middle of the sea in a storm several times and the disciples were greatly afraid. Jesus brought a peace not only to the disciples, but to the storm as well. This peace with God does not mean that we won’t have troubles in this world, but it does mean He will never leave us or forsake us, even in the midst of the trouble and trials of life.

Now for clarification; this writer does not get this concept right all the time. There are times when I get news and my blood pressure goes up and I start meditating on all the “what ifs”. That is the spiritual way of saying I start “worrying” and not trusting in God.

Now there are many things that we are not going to be in control of as we close out this year and even start the New Year, but we can and should have control over how we respond to what life throws our way. As we celebrate Christmas, remember with me why He came and let Him be that Prince of Peace in your life.