“For He Himself is our peace…”He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2 14, 17-18)
No peace, no joy; know peace, know joy. I had to stop and think about whether joy came first and peace follows or the other way around. I decided that it only makes sense that peace comes first – peace with God.
For the world it is as the word of God declares in (Isaiah 48:22): “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked” for “the way of peace they have not known.” (Isaiah 59:8) Every one of us in our natural spiritual state is wicked before God – sinners at war with God. Jesus Christ, “the Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:6) came to set us at peace with God, this He did through His death and resurrection.
By His Spirit He left us peace for life:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Our external circumstances can not be counted on for peace and joy; to know peace and thereby its by-product of joy each of us need only to welcome the Christ of Christmas: “the Christ of God” (Luke 9:20) and the Christ of the gospel into our hearts by faith.
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”(2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Joy to the world….
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