Jesus Christ can bring peace into this un-peaceful world.
Alarmed by the possibility of a nuclear war, a wealthy retired couple decided to move to a remote group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean. They were large enough to provide a comfortable life but small enough to be unimportant. English rule made the government stable and the culture familiar. It was not long after they moved to the Falkland Islands that, to everyone's surprise, war erupted there.
We search for peace but there is no peace on earth today. Wars, terrorist attacks, rioting... peace is lacking between nations; between races; it’s lacking in homes and in hearts. It’s obvious that our world needs peace.
Many of the prophecies of the birth of Christ use the word peace.
He is the "Prince of Peace"
Zechariah says, "He will proclaim peace to the nations..." (9:10)
Micah adds, "He will be their peace" (5:4-5)
But our world has seen very little peace because it has not embraced Jesus Christ. Since the signing of the Peace of Westphalia (1648) there have been more than last 300 wars in Europe alone. There is not a single generation of Americans who have not known war. Most have known multiple wars.
Into this brawling, war-torn world, God sent His personal envoy of "peace on earth, good will toward men."
Peace is more than the mere absence of war. It has its roots in the Old Testament concept of shalom. It means wholeness, completeness, well-being, and prosperity. The lack of shalom comes from such sources as poverty, greed, the lust for power and spiritual emptiness. Into this turmoil we must bring the light of Christ by waging peace.
We wage peace when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked and befriend the lonely. (Matthew 25:44-46)
We wage peace when we stand for justice. (Isaiah 1:17) We wage peace whenever we share the love of Jesus with others. (John 13:34-35)
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and
recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
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