We've spent a couple of weeks looking through the Bible at
texts and verses which make us think about "Peace on earth, good-will to
men." Have you discovered any new
applications which would bring peace to your life, the life of your family,
your business, your community, or your world?
I talked to one man this past week, who indicated how troubled
he was with the problems and turmoil going on in our world. There is need for concern, and need for
growing people and nations into making the world a more peaceable place. Knowing this, we have suggested some Christian
songs, more associating with the peacekeeping lives of the family of God, and
passages of Scripture which can lead us to experience more peace. In spite of all these, we still long for the "peace
which passes understanding."
Recently I was told about a man who was called upon to lead
a public prayer in the Sunday morning worship assembly. He began:
Lord teach us to know
and love peace--
That may sound simple, but in reality people will not seek
peace until they become people who really desire peace. That is true of national and international
leaders, church leaders, community leaders, and eventually the average person
in the pew....................Then he prayed again:
Lord, teach us to know
and love peace--
It's one thing to pray it, but life-changing to become a
person who is a friend to all creation, a friend to other nations, a friend to
the lost, searching soul.............Then he prayed a third time:
Lord, teach us to know
and love peace--
The prayer is an invitation for God to maintain such control
in our lives that He, the God of peace, is the very core of our existence. It supersedes our will, our desires, our
planning, and places the direction of our lives completely in God's hands.
It may all sounds like a good prayer, but it will be only
words, unless we discover the source of the kind of peace and good-will God
wishes for us to experience.
This Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this week, spoke about
this peace when he was about to leave his earthly journey. He spoke to his
closest followers and said, "Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
So the prayer continues that Jesus, our
source for peace, gives us an ever flowing supply of the peace only he can
give. It's a wonderful time of the year
for us to learn and make a habit of practicing "Peace on earth, good-will
to men."
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