God's Gift Of Peace Series

I share that story because not only does God’s gift of peace work on the inside, it is also good for:

Peace on the outside

Jesus says, “I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.” John 16:33 NCV

Jesus was God’s gift 2000 years ago at Christmas time so that we can have peace because he lived this life perfectly. He defeated the world’s distractions and stresses, but also he died on a cross to take away all of the times that we failed to live up to perfection, which for me is everyday. Jesus paid the price for all of our shortcomings and sins, he died to take them away. But then he rose from the grave of our sins and proved once again that he had conquered the world and everything in it. What this does for us is that is sets us free to now live in peace even if the whole world is falling apart around us. If you accept what Jesus did for you, if you allow him to come into your life and save you, then you have the power to be at peace no matter what is going outside.

The Bible says, “The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end; I will keep forever my promise of peace." So says the Lord who loves you.” Isaiah 54:10 TEV

God says to us “I gave up my Son Jesus to come and show you how to live in peace even when the world is falling apart because I love you, and because I love you I will never fail to give you peace.”

When relationships crumble, God will give you peace.

When tragedy strikes, God will give you peace. When your circumstances are frightening, God will give you peace. When fights are breaking out all around you, God will give you peace. The peace of God does not depend on external circumstances. It comes directly from the Lord and it is placed in our hearts. There is always going to be uncertainty in the world, but God has given you a gift that is able to conquer anything in, under, or above this earth.

Jesus says, “I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.” John 14:27 CEV

You might be able to find bits and pieces of peace like I did on the roof of that house boat looking up at the stars, But to have real peace, the kind of peace that can stand up to all the world can throw at it can only come from God’s gift of Jesus. The final peace that I want us to look at is:

Peace with God

There has been a problem with mankind since the fall of man back in the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden, which has led to most peoples lack of true peace. That problem is we have chosen to go our own way, against God’s way, and as a result caused all kinds of evil and sinful things to come into this world. But God gave his Christmas gift to us, he gave us Jesus and now we can have peace with God despite our corrupt state.

The Bible says, “God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold the world guilty of its sins.”

2 Corinthians 5:19 NCV