Prince of Peace

A few nights ago I met a friend for dinner. We had not had a face to face for months so we had a lot of catching up to do on each other's lives. It was great to be with her, laugh with her, and delve into some serious conversation. At the end of the evening our talk turned toward Christmas. She told me that her church was empasizing each week before Christmas the names for God/Jesus that we hear so often in the season....Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace.

She confessed to me that the Prince of Peace one gave her a little angst. She questioned what it really meant. This world seems anything but peaceful and for that matter our lives don't feel like they have that much tranquility in them. Read through some headlines, turn on the news, observe the people right around you and maybe even take a good look at yourself. Where is this peace exactly? We can agree quite readily that "peace" is illusive at best.

What is it that we say peace is? It has many definitions.
1. nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.

2. an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism

3. a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations

4. the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security

5. cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.

6. freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.

7. a state of tranquillity or serenity

8. a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquillity

9. silence; stillness

I find it intriguing that we have so many definitions for a concept of which we have so little.
Yet.........
You can be at peace.
You can make peace.
You can live in peace.
You can hold your peace.
You can keep your peace.
You can make your peace.

WHERE IS THIS PEACE? Let's go back for a minute to the Prince of Peace. If Jesus came to the world as the Prince of Peace where is it? May I suggest that He is it? He came to put an end to strife of all kinds and especially the war within each of us as we try and fail to deal with our own sin. Our world is troubled, but can you imagine the chaos, the destruction if He had not come? I am not always peaceful, but deep in my soul Peace resides. I know He is there, I feel His presence deep within and even sometimes all around me, this Prince of Peace.

John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

Excerpt from "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"