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Peace

Have you seen the movie Miss Congeniality 2? In the movie the announcer asks the Miss World contestants what they would like for the world. They in turn answer, “World Peace”. Peace is what all people want, in the world and personally.

The Bible has a lot to say about peace.

The prophet Isaiah looked forward to the coming of the Messiah who would be the Prince of Peace. God told the prophet Zechariah that the Messiah would proclaim peace to the nations. At the birth of Jesus the angels announced, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth PEACE to men on whom his favour rests”. Jesus said “Peace I leave with you.”

The opposite of peace is anxiety. That is a better description of us. The word for anxiety means to be torn in two, tossed back and forth.

Peace is different, it means inner calm. It is the gift of the Spirit in Galatians 5. It is what Jesus brings to people separated by ethnicity and any other barrier. Ephesians 2:14

It is what Paul says we have when we bring our requests to God – “and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts”. The word guard is a military word. The army has surrounded the city to protect it from any enemy attack. With the army standing guard around the city everyone can sleep easily. There is peace.

For the Christian the army is the all powerful and all knowing living God. He guards His people. He gives them peace. They are secure with Him.

Last Sunday we sang a song written by Horatio Spafford. In 1871 his lost his business in the Great Chicago Fire. In the same year he sent his wife and 4 daughters to England for a holiday. The ship sank. His wife was the only survivor and sent a 2 word telegram, ‘Saved alone.’

It is said Spafford wrote the hymn on the ship to meet his wife. It was the hymn ‘It is well with my soul.’ The hymn says, “When sorrows like a sea billows roll, whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”

That is real peace.

Knowing Jesus will guard our hearts and His peace will surround us.