Thursday, December 23, 2021

 Shod with the Gospel of Peace

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 6:9).

Peace is highly valued on earth and in heaven. This is why Christians should be shod with the gospel of peace, so they spread it wherever they go. Luke tells us in 2:13-14,  "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." When the angels appeared to the shepherds, they spoke of peace on earth. In fact, Isaiah called Christ the "Prince of Peace" when he foretold of His coming in 9:6. Jesus came into the world to bring us a way for salvation, and it's only through Him that we can find true, lasting peace.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3).

For the Roman soldier Paul talks about in Ephesians 6, his footwear was crucial, and without it, he wouldn't be able to carry out his duties. Soldiers normally wore a type of toeless boot with spikes on the bottom for better traction in slippery places or on steep inclines.  Having peace in our hearts will keep us from sliding into sinful reactions when the path gets rough.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

We both need to be at peace with God and to have the peace of God before we can spread it to others. This is where we find our joy. "Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy" (Proverbs 12:20). Hebrews 12:14 tells us that without peace, no man shall see God, and Matthew recorded Jesus saying, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God (5:9). This is one of the reasons Jesus came to earth to be born in a manger all those years ago. As our Savior, He is our peace, and He wants us to help others find that special peace that passes all understanding.

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