Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas Day #11 The Gift of His Peace This Christmas

Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas – Day #11 The Gift of His Peace This Christmas (Isaiah 26:1-4)

The Gift of His Peace This Christmas (Isaiah 26:1-4)

The power of Jesus Christ can also turn enemies into friends. In 2001, Stanley Weintraub, military historian and author of Silent Night recounts the amazing Christmas truce of 1914. Five months into World War I, on the muddy fields of the Western Front, enlisted men and lower-level officers of both German and British soldiers on the front lines enacted a bizarre cease-fire. Although no one is certain where it began, it seems as though the Germans initiated the truce. Christmas carols were sung from the trenches and both sides were surprised by what they heard. Cautiously, men from both sides slipped out of the trenches and began to congregate. Eventually, the truce reached much of the front line. "The socializing began on Christmas Eve and continued through Christmas day and even the day after." They sampled each other's food, took pictures, and even played soccer on the battlefield. The truce ended as it had begun. Mr. Weintraub writes, "In most cases the adversaries parted as friends in the manner of boxers shaking hands before the opening bell." Generals on both sides were shocked and made certain it never happened again. Men returned to the task of war, but for a brief moment in time, celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace turned enemies into friends. If it can be done on a battlefield, certainly it can be done in any setting. In 1914, the peace was only temporary, but today it can be permanent through the power of Jesus Christ. We not only have peace from the triumph over our enemies, but we also have peace from the precepts of God's truthfulness and trustworthiness.

Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” When we take a very close look at Isaiah 26, we find it is a chapter about peace. You don't have to look very hard today to see the disarray and disorder that people are facing in their own lives. From little children to senior citizens, we are a nation of people that live in fear and worry. Children live in trauma because they don't get their own way, or worry about being rejected by others, or the WI-FI is down. Parents worry about their kids and their jobs. Seniors fear such things as the loss of their health or dropping dead from a heart attack or a fall. Our country has enjoyed great prosperity and blessing. Our homes, schools, cars, toys, and technological gadgets are envied by multitudes in the world that have very little. Yet, I have found that those who have very little but know the Lord Jesus Christ, possess something that most do not have, but would give much to possess. What is it that eludes so many individuals? The answer is "perfect peace."

Isaiah reminds us that peace comes from focusing on the Lord. The psalmist urged us to do the same thing when he spoke of fixing his heart upon God. Psalm 57:7, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” Isaiah urged us to focus on the Lord. That is what we are to consistently do and the result will be the fact that we will be kept in "perfect peace". The word "stayed" means "to lean, rest, or rely upon someone or something; to brace or to revive."

There are several insights we can glean about leaning on something.

1. When you lean on something, you shift your weight on that object. We are to shift the weight of our burdens upon the Lord Jesus Christ. I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

2. When you lean on something, you do it to rest and regain strength. We find rest and strength in the Lord. Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

3. When you lean on something, you are depending on that object or person for support and balance. We do this to keep from falling so that we can continue to go forward. Christ gives us balance and stability so we can run our race for the Lord. Psalm 116:8, “For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” Psalm 145:14, “The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” God wants us to be close to Him. If it is your heart's desire to walk close with the Lord, you can have that kind of relationship with Him. Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” James 4:8a, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” Like the contented lamb nestled in the arms of the shepherd, those who walk with God and thirst for Him will find great peace and contentment.

Questions to Consider:
Just how much time do you spend with the Lord when you go home?
How often do you spend time reading the Bible during the week at home?
Do you ever take time to pray?
How often do you think about your relationship with Jesus Christ?
Is it important to you that your life pleases God?

If this post in any way, has blessed you,
please share this website and its articles with others:
www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com