It seems like whenever someone is
coaxing me to try some exotic food it always ends up with some version of,
tastes like chicken. It never does but chicken is a good common taste for
all kinds of stuff. On the other hand Ice cream is one of those things
that definitely does not taste like chicken!
How would you explain ice cream
to an alien from outer space? Umm.. cold... smooth... um really
really good. Look you just have to try it. There is no way to
explain it until you taste it.
There are some things in life
that have no other adequate common denominator from which we can make
an analogy or draw a comparison. Ice cream is one of those things.
Words just can't cover the cold, smooth sweetness of high-quality ice cream on a hot day. You just have to taste, then the light of will
shine and you will wonder how anyone could live without it.
Real Peace is like that. I
never know how to explain to people what God's peace is like. The Apostle Paul
called it the “peace that passes all understanding” and in the Old Testament, the word is Shalom. Both of these speak about something much
bigger more important and substantive than our normal understanding of peace.
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Usually, when we use the
word peace, we think of things like peace and quiet. By this we mean the kids
aren't screaming, the neighbor's music isn't too loud and
we aren't fighting with our spouse. This is not at all
what God means when he offers us His Peace.
God's Peace is not an emotional
state of tranquility. God's Peace is a deep down in your
soul confidence that God will have His way in the end. That's
why it's beyond understanding. It comes from God not our circumstances
and it cannot be taken away by the storms of life. This was such a big
deal for ancient Hebrews that greeted and departed from one
another with the word Shalom (God's
Peace) and still do today. Early Christians said the same thing with the words, The Peace of Christ be with you and the other person would reply and also with you.
Real Peace, God's Peace is a gift
straight from our heavenly father. It is the "secret sauce" of
being a follower of Jesus. It starts by having peace with God. Jesus Is our Peace. He has, by his sacrifice, mended our
relationship with God. He offers us a right and good relationship
with God who loves us so much that He would give His life for us in Jesus.
That alone would be enough but God,
being the overachiever that He is, did more. God also restores our
relationships (Peace) with creation. He is the source of true healing in
the broken relationships of this life. He wants to heal that
broken relationship with your spouse, child, parent, friend,
co-worker, neighbor, and on and on and on. Truly this is Peace that
passes all human understanding.
Best news of all... although He
paid a high price to make Peace, He offers it to you freely. All you have to do
is ask.
Here's how
Here's how
Ask him to clean you up and make you new
Ask him to help you follow him the rest of your life.
Do that sincerely in your heart and His peace will be yours.
Not only that but in the "bundle" you get forgiveness, new life , and heaven. Way better than the phone companies bundle.
My greatest wish for you is that this Advent, The Peace of Christ be with you.
For more information about who to
have God's Peace feel free to e-mail me at PastorCraig@MarysvilleNaz.org
You can also watch or listen to
the sermon about this at
Catch the audio here.
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