One Heart - Father Let Them Be Oneنموونە

PRINCE OF PEACE

“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, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

Our God is the God of peace. Jesus is the supreme Peacemaker. He came to establish peace; His message explained peace; His death purchased peace; and His resurrected presence enables peace. The messianic predictions were that He would be the “Prince of Peace” (Isa.9:6). The angels announced his birth by singing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He is pleased with.” (Luk.2:14). Jesus’ persistent word of pardon to sinners was, “Go in peace!” Just before He was crucified, Jesus conferred His peace on his disciples, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful” (Joh.14:27). When the Lord returned after the resurrection, his first word to the disciples was, "Peace to you!" (Luk.24:36).

Jesus' mission was to bring the peace of God, and to initiate the healing relationship of peace with God. He paid an enormous price for us to experience peace. The word "peacemaker" is applied by the apostle Paul to what God has done through Christ so that we could be at peace with God. Through Christ God was pleased “. . . to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20). Furthermore, the apostle Paul informed us that Jesus “. . . might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace” (Eph.2:15). Once the peace of God rules in a believer's heart, he is enabled to live in peace with all people, and to proclaim the gospel of peace (Phil.4:7; Col.3:15; Eph.6:15).

PRAYER POINTERS

ME: Is your heart at peace with God? Do you live in peace with all other people? Open your heart today for the Prince of Peace and receive from Him the peace He promised to His disciples, the peace He brokered with God on the cross, and the peace that enables you to make peace with your enemies.

US: Biblical peace-making is the way Christians live out the gospel and glorify God by resolving conflict and reconciling relationships. Pray for your congregation to play an active role in peace-making among individual members, and also in your community.

THEM: Peace-making is a divine work and can only be done by those who have the peace of God ruling in their hearts. Pray for Christians in conflict situations to be divinely used by God to broker peace between enemies, and also to boldly proclaim the gospel of peace.

Remember your John 17 memory verse.

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love." -- Francis of Assisi