What do you think of when you hear the word peace?

Does your mind go to the peace sign? ☮️

Or two fingers sticking up to give the peace sign? ✌🏻

Do you think about the talk of peace this time of year when you hear about baby Jesus coming to bring peace? The Prince of Peace.

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This past Sunday, my pastor preached on PEACE for the first week of advent.

Then, Tuesday, I was at BSF and this one little bit about peace stuck with me.

Is it because peace seems to be thrown in my face twice in three days? Or because I’ve had to ask for a lot of peace lately? Who knows!

Here I am though…

Our BSF lecturer said “Jesus didn’t come to bring peace between people, but peace between God and His people.”

Many times in Scripture it’s reiterated that we will have difficulties, trials and hardships. It’s pointed out that we will have conflict. We will have conflict within our own families even.

I knew that there was peace between God and His people, but I called it reconciliation. In my life, reconciliation isn’t demonstrated very peacefully at times. It’s a long road to such reconciliation. I guess up until this past week, I had forgotten that that was what Jesus did. It was PEACE. He is the Prince of Peace.

Jesus took that road of reconciliation, being the sacrifice for all. He took the place of our sin so we didn’t have to.

For me, I consider Jesus the bridge between us and God. He made a way. Jesus is the way. No one comes to the Father except through Him.

It clicked for me that Jesus brought peace… not just reconciliation, but a peace between us and God.

It got me thinking that if we desire and have peace with God, the relationships we invest in on earth, even if we have differences and conflict, we can show the peace we’re given to others.

Peace between people may be a by-product of the peace you have with God, but really, the peace you’re given is not guaranteed to make your life rosy. It provides you the peace to endure through the trials.

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Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Now May the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3

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.

John 14:27

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:9