Peace On Earth

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER

RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK

(Revised: 2023)

TEXT: Proverbs 25:21-22; Exodus 23:4-5; Isaiah 9:6; Acts 2:38

A. It’s the Sunday after Christmas & the beginning of a New Year, & our hearts are still full of the hymns that we sang proclaiming the wonderful message that Jesus Christ was born!

And we believe what the prophet Isaiah long ago wrote about Him when he declared, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, & the government will be upon his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

But that last little phrase, “Prince of Peace,” makes us pause a bit because our world is embroiled in regional, cultural, ideological, & even racial wars. And most of us are convinced these conflicts must end, for such hatred & terror cannot be allowed to reign supreme.

Almost all of us know someone who was personally affected by the tragedies of 9/11, or the conflicts with terrorism since that day. And the result is that for most of us life has become more precious than we ever acknowledged before.

B. Of all the Christmas songs we sang during these past few weeks there is one that is rather special to me. I seldom can sing it all the way through without a catch in my voice or tears in my eyes. For some reason the words have an emotional affect on me more than almost any other Christmas song I sing.

The 1st verse says: "I heard the bells on Christmas day their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, goodwill to men."

"Peace on earth, goodwill to men." What familiar words especially at Christmastime. That was the message the angels sang to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest, & peace on earth, goodwill to men."

That sounds great, but we live in a world filled with enemies. Peace seems so elusive, & goodwill is not universal. The song goes on:

"And in despair I bowed my head: ‘There is no peace on earth,' I said,

‘For hate is strong, & mocks the song of peace on earth, goodwill to men.'

Then pealed the bells more loud & deep: ‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, goodwill to men.'"

"Goodwill to men?" It’s a beautiful message, but does God really expect us to take it seriously?

C. I believe God does intend His teachings to be taken seriously. So He not only speaks the words, “…peace on earth, good will toward men," but He gives us the key to unlocking the door to peace so that we really can attain it.

What is that key? Listen to these words, “If your enemy is hungry give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, & the Lord will reward you."

If I asked you where to find those words in the Bible, some of you might say, "Jesus said them in the 5th chapter of Matthew." And I would give you partial credit because Jesus does say something similar when He tells us to love our enemies & to be kind to those who curse us.

Some of you might say, "Paul said them." And I would give you partial credit for that as well, because in the 12th chapter of Romans Paul quotes from this passage.

But the words I have just read are the words of Solomon in Proverbs 25:21 22. “If your enemy is hungry give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, & the Lord will reward you."

Whether it is in the O.T. or in the New, God's Word says that if there is going to be peace on earth then we, as God's people, must treat our enemies with love.

PROP. What about this idea, "love your enemies feed them care for them?" Can we really love our enemies? God seems to think that we can but only when we realize the source, the example, & the power of this love in our lives.

I. THE SOURCE OF THIS LOVE

A. Where does this kind of love come from? The principle expressed goes all the way back to Ex. 23:4 5. Moses is telling the people God's law, “If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, do not leave it there, be sure you help him with it."