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"For to us a Child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
(Isaiah 9:6)
Only two more days til Christmas! It is the most wonderful time of the year. What a blessing to know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and celebrate Him, the true meaning of Christmas and the reason for this festive and joyous season.
This week in our devotions, we have been focusing on Isaiah 9:6 and the four titles or descriptive phrases Isaiah prophesies over 700 years before the birth of Jesus the Messiah. Today, we conclude with the title, Prince of Peace. Commenting on this phrase, J.T. Motyer states, "Peace is personal fulfillment (2 Kings 22:20), well-being (Gen. 29:6), harmony (Exod. 4:18), peace with God (Num. 6:26; 25:12; Isa. 53:5)... This Prince, then, himself a whole personality, at one with God and with his people, administers the benefits of peace/wholeness in his benign rule. This rule, however, will be unchanging in its character (and peace), without end in space and time (for ever), the fulfillment of the Davidic ideal (David's, Pss 2:8; 72:8–11)." (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 20, p. 102). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
In John 14:27, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." He also stated in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
What does this mean for you? How can this doctrine of the Shalom of God, the peace of God, help you where you are in your life right now? The greatest gift to unwrap for your soul this Christmas 2022 is peace. Will you receive it and allow the peace of God to envelop your soul? How do you do this? How do you receive or accept any gift offered to you? You open your heart and take it in.
Rich Mullins was a very gifted Christian songwriter and singer. But like another very talented artist, Keith Green, he died at an early age in a tragic accident. Green died in an airplane crash at age 28, and Mullins died at age 41 when the jeep he was traveling in turned over and he was thrown out of the vehicle. His friend survived the accident, but Mullins was thrown out and then run over by a tractor trailer. But before he went to heaven, he left us with wonderful songs like "Awesome God", "Sing Your Praise to the Lord", and this one from 1986, "Hold Me Jesus":
Well sometimes my life just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small
So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart
So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down I'm falling on my knees
And this Salvation Army band is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin
I'm singing hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
( Source.)
Christmas Peace—God really does give peace, that tranquility of the soul that passes all understanding and is always available for us His children. It is one of the millions of blessings God gives to His kids. Do you have peace, do you know the Prince of Peace, Jesus, as your Savior and Lord? If no, then receive Him into your heart today! Believe in Him, turn from your sins (repent), and be born again. |
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