Wouldn’t it be great if the world could be peaceful . . . calm, quiet, without trouble anywhere? The keyword this week is just that - - - peace.
It’s not always easy to come by. You may be trying to seek peace, and pursue it, as suggested in Psalm 34:14; however, you may experience frustration because of opponents.
Opponents can rough up relationships. Some are like sandpaper, slightly annoying. Others act like a steel fence, cutting us off from our desired goal. The Apostle Paul gave this advice in Romans 12:18 (NKJV): If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
In the beauty of darkness, angels lit up the sky outside Bethlehem. Can you think of Christmas songs without *“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear?”
Perhaps, like me, the first phrase coming to mind is “Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all-gracious King.” It sounds so powerful and majestic,
Their message was God’s . . . offering us a way into His eternal kingdom. In the fullness of time - - - centuries of earthly time, plus the months required for a baby to grow in the womb - - - God sent His Son to be born the Savior of the world. John 3:16 gives the extended invitation.
Jesus, in His ministry, offered personal peace. In John 14:1(NLT) He says: “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” How is that possible? His answer: “Trust in God, and trust also in me.”
During this Advent Season let’s aim for personal peace. Only a few powerful people are called upon to achieve world peace, but personal peace is up to each of us.
Will we trust in Jesus and receive His peace, or will we let our minds focus on the world's lack of peace? It's a major opponent, but we have a choice. Personal peace can be ours.
*Hymnary.org says this song was authored by Edmund H. Sears in 1849 and has been published in 857 hymnals.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Used by Permission, All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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