THE PRINCE OF “PEACE”
This past week I began on Monday to contemplate and seek God as to what He would have me to share with His people on this Sunday before Christmas. Almost immediately my mind began to turn to those who are close friends as well as casual acquaintance that I had come across over the last few days that were filled with anxiety and some even seemingly despair; stressed out as to what the Christmas season held in store for them as well as the coming year.
I began also to think about the fact that statistics say that there are more suicides at this time of year than any other and that the money spent on sleeping pills, nerve pills and anti-depressants will literally sky-rocket.
In sadness and grief of spirit my thoughts came to the conclusion that we celebrate the birth of the Saviour, including those of us who are Christians, yet we have forgotten or fail to take into account the fact that one of the names given this one who was born would be “The Prince Of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)
What is a Prince? He is first of all the son of one who walks in supreme authority thus this son carries that same authority with him. The writer of Colossians exhorts us to “let the peace of God “rule” our hearts” (Colossians 3:15). When one is ruled by another he is in complete submission to the same. This word “rule” means to direct, control, decide, or determine. Therefore if peace rules my heart I submit to the same letting that peace decide what direction I take and control my actions and attitudes.
Isaiah said, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isaiah 26:3) and Paul said, “The peace of God that passeth all understanding shall “keep” your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:7) The Greek word “keep” here means to guard and or to prevent “hostile invasion”. How often do we allow the enemy to invade our thoughts and minds and try to take possession of the same leaving us in a state of despair? This happens because we fail to let Peace be the guard of our soul (mind, will, and emotions).
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) Why then do we allow our hearts and minds to be overcome with anxiety and fears, doubts and confusions, and frustrations that lead us to near despair?
And exactly what is peace? One word that comes to mind is tranquility. I think of a pool of water, cool to the touch, refreshing to him that is thirsty, and a haven to those who chose to sit on its banks and drink in the calmness that it brings to their spirit.
In this day which we live where folks are concerned about what is to happen in the future we would do well to consider that Isaiah said, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1)
Peace can also be seen as the absence of fear and this is possibly the biggest one for most people. They receive Christ as their Saviour but He is not Lord of their life for he is not allowed to rule neither their hearts nor minds. They continue to want to hold on to that position themselves.
Granted this can be and is difficult at times and I was to be reminded of this lesson first hand one more time before I was allowed to teach it to my congregation that morning.
On Saturday as we were wrapping up the final rehearsal for the Christmas program presentation scheduled for the next evening, in the excitement of seeing it come together and one of the cast having had to leave before hand I decided to play his role; that having a part which called for an exit at a slight run. However my haste brought me unexpectedly and certainly unplanned literally to my knees, in particular the left one.
I continued with the last minute details and preparation although as the evening progressed I realized the limp that I had tried to hide to the others was becoming more and more pronounced. When we finally called it a night and got home it was quite a shock to find upon observation that my knee was swollen two and one half or three times its normal size. Although I am not one to by and large be shaken, this brought a gasp from my lips as I realized that I had done way more damage than I had dreamed.
I found my way to a chair fully intending to remain there until bedtime however a sudden burst of pain at a slight movement brought me to tears. This pain refused to leave and at the thought of what I could be facing my heart began to be overwhelmed within me. I felt Gods spirit began to tug at my heart to pull up these scriptures that I had been meditating on over the last few days.
He will keep me in peace, let peace “rule” your heart; He will give peace that passes understanding… These are things that can be easy to quote but difficult to abide by when literally the pain that is in ones body is more than one feels that he can bear. And adding insult to injury my mind raced madly as I realized that my husband was not going to be able to move me and we were definitely going to have to get me some help and an ambulance would put a real dent in our finances since we were not covered by insurance not to mention the cost of a hospital stay.
Although I could not say I was as “cool as a cucumber” I knew that God was in control of this situation and His peace would rule my heart. And this HE did. A bumpy ride to the hospital with ambulance attendants casting glances at each other concerning a blood pressure that was way too high and that brought back memories of the loss of a grandson a little over two years previous did nothing to alleviate the fears that tried to invade my heart.
No, I was not able to avoid the ambulance trip or the hospital visit however God did not promise us an absence of storms only that He would see us through them and that with peace if we will only let “The Prince of Peace” rule our hearts.
He spoke to the disciples and told them to cross over to the other side sending them right into the storm but this he did knowing that the plan He had for them would strengthen their faith. And when the storm arose He did not leave them alone but when they called out to Him He simply said, “PEACE BE STILL”. Were they calm during this chaos? No, the Bible said they cried out in fear but did he rail on them? No, he simply spoke to them, “Oh ye of little faith” and calmed them in their storm as well as calming the storm around them. (Mark 4:35-40)
How many of us belittle the disciples at this point? “How could they have doubted? Didn’t they remember the miracles he had just done right before their eyes? Yet how much has our Heavenly Father done for us and still we doubt and allow fear to overwhelm us instead of letting “peace” rule when troubles come our way?
Has everything concerning that fall I took been taken care of? Am I walking just fine now? Have the bills that were accrued during this incident been paid? No, no, and no! Is my heart at peace? Yes, yes, yes! How can that be? I have not been able to put any wait on this leg for days. I have had to learn to walk with crutches and watch my family work themselves overtime taking care of what I should be doing especially right here at Christmas. I will not be able to go back to work for quite some time and the doctors keep saying you need to see a specialist.
So how can I be at peace? I cannot tell you. Paul said it is a peace that passeth understanding. If I could understand how it works then it would not be His Peace. However I can tell you how this peace comes. It comes by following the words of Peter, “casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you”. (I Peter 5:7) and by crying out, “Lord be merciful and hide me under the shadow of thy wings until these calamities be past” (Psalm 57:1) and knowing that He will do just that.
May the God of Peace bless you and yours abundantly not just during this Christmas Season but throughout the coming year as you place your life in His hands and let him truly be the “Prince” of Peace that rules therein!
Betty Miller
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