READING: Isaiah 9-10, Ephesians 3
“He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
I’ve seen the evidence many times, and it’s powerful. The gospel works miracles that fix the broken, heal the hurting, and restore the fallen. More specifically, I’ve seen the gospel bring a supernatural peace that cannot be explained apart from a working of God. For example, I’ve watched as decaying marriages find hope and strength again; in fact, I’ve even seen divorced couples get re-married to each other after the gospel brings them peace. I’ve watched children learn to love neglectful parents, parents be reconciled to wayward children, and entire families start over again when they get saved.
At a local church level, I’ve seen churches that previously split now seek reconciliation with each other as they listened to the Word of God. As a pastor, I shepherded members who differed, fought, struggled, repented, and reconciled when the gospel grabbed them. I’ve watched new believers return to people they’ve harmed to ask for forgiveness and healing. Overseas, I’ve seen members of opposing African tribes let go of their historical animosity when the love of God overwhelms their cultural expectations. I watched as Christian Arabs and Christian Jews push beyond their histories to love one another. I’ve even read of people who were jailed for their faith, but who sought a relationship with their jailers for the sake of the gospel.
More personally, I’ve ministered to people whose internal agonies have found peace when they met Christ, the Immanuel, “God with us.” I, too (and perhaps you) have experienced that peace that gives hope in life and security in death – that is, a peace that affects eternity.
All of this is the work of the one Isaiah called the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:7). Somehow, the baby born of a virgin in Bethlehem brings a peace the world cannot understand nor duplicate. That’s a sweet, gracious gift to us.
ACTION STEPS:
- Whatever your worries are today, rest in the peace that God gives.
- If you need to be reconciled to someone, start that process today. Pray to the Prince of Peace for guidance and strength.
PRAYER: “Thank You, Jesus, for being the Prince of Peace in my life.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 11-13, Ephesians 4
