During the Christmas season, we receive many greetings that have to do with expressions of hope and peace. And there are a myriad of peace ìneedsî in our world both local and global. But all of us need a special kind of peace in a world that often shows no pity, no purpose, and no peace.
But, the truth is that there can be no real peace apart from God. Indeed, it is only the Lord that can bring genuine peace. To explain this godly type of peace, I thought about using the letters in P-E-A-C-E and the names of Jesus as given in Isaiah 9:6:
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.”
Prince of Peace - In the account of the Christmas story in Luke 2, the Bible says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” My Bible notes speak of the “divine initiative” – that is, in our sin nature, we are enemies of God, and yet God sent Jesus to reconcile sinners to Himself. “But God still demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8) Only when we have peace with God can we have peace with our fellow man.
Everlasting Father - God is eternal – He has neither beginning nor end. And He alone gives everlasting life: “And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
Almighty God - God is all-powerful, and He acts as our Protector. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” (Psa 91:1-2)
Counselor - Christ is man’s answer to all his woes. Micah questions the peoples’ loss of their counselors as to their being without help (Mic 4:9). But it is Christ Jesus who soothes the soul, who ministers to the mind, who puts fetters on our fears, and Who leads us even “through the valley of the shadow of death.” In Him, we may fear no evil.
Emmanuel - Emmanuel means “God with us.” Wow! That is the difference between the Christian faith and all others – that is, God has come to man! It goes back to that divine initiative: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) There are two vital truths here: one, that Jesus is begotten, not created nor made; He is from all eternity true God of true God. And, two, that the God of the universe actually took upon Himself human flesh, bones, and blood! Just as He is true God so is He true Man! In that baby conceived and born of a virgin girl, was the God-Man who would pay the penalty for sin, take the place of sinners far and wide, bear God’s full wrath in the stead of sinful men, and make a PEACE that would last through eternity.
What a story! Do you have this blessed PEACE with God? It is not something that is natural – it is supernatural. But it can be gained so simply by trusting in that PRINCE of PEACE, Christ Jesus. May you find that peace this season.
Merry CHRISTmas!
(This devotional was originally published a few years ago by 2R’s wife, Carol. It has been used several times for the CrossWind Christmas devo. It’s truth, however,is timeless and, thus, profitable for review throughout the entire year.)
(Could the computer-generated image above be a more-accurate interpretation of Jesus’ face than any of the images previously rendered? Archaeologists, forensic experts, computer experts, and others compiled first century, Palestinian-area data [including skeletal remains] to construct a “portrait” of the Jesus of the New Testament.)
“He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” [Isaiah 53:2b]
“. . .and in the midst of the lampstands one like the son of man. . .the hairs of his head were. . .like wool. . .his feet like burnished bronze. . .” [Revelation 1:13-15]
Copyright (c) 2007 CrossWind Ministry
