Is There Any Peace in This World?

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful."  Colossians 3:12-15

Peace is an elusive commodity in this old world.  From suicide bombers and all the other terrorist acts overseas to fractured relationships with other people to the tragedies of life that may befall us, it seems that the disturbance of peace lurks around every corner.  Is there anything we can do to keep peace in our lives?

There are several aspects to peace.  For instance, there are many calamities of life which we are helpless to prevent, but trusting God through the ones that come to us helps us go through them with peace in our hearts.  God promises to give His perfect peace to those who put their trust in Him.

We need to keep our peace with God by obeying His commands and confessing and repenting right away when we sin.

One of the most painful disturbances of our peace comes when we quarrel with someone we love.  It helps us maintain a peaceful life when we deal with love, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness to the people in our lives.  

We are particularly exhorted to keep the unity and the peace which Jesus has given to His body, the church.  We have some important bonds with our fellow believers.  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said,  "We are all equally sinners...We are all equally helpless...We have all come to one and the same Savior...We have the same salvation...We have the same Holy Spirit...We have the same Father...And finally, we are all marching and going together to the same eternal home.  It is a knowledge and appreciation of these things that will draw us together."

So, not only do I wish you a Merry Christmas, but I wish you a Christmas filled with God's peace in your heart and in your relationships.

Father, thank You for that peace that passes understanding that is available to us.  What a precious gift.  Amen.