Isaiah 9:6-7 (NASB)
"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."
One of the names or characteristics of the Messiah's personality revealed to us in this prophecy is; "Prince of peace". Luke 2 announces from the heavenly multitude, "...and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." "Peace on earth", is certainly a well known and widespread greeting at Christmas. Then in John 22:21-22, Jesus is speaking to the disciples, most scholars believe this is when they, the disciples, became Christians, became born again. "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I also, send you. Receive the Holy Spirit."
Jesus effectively made, commissioned, empowered these believers to literally be "carriers" of peace. What I mean by the word "carrier", is much like when a person is a carrier of a disease or sickness. Others contract the sickness just by being in contact with the carrier, (poor example, but effective). So as believers we too are to be carriers of peace; exposing others to this peace that is ours.
In the light of the following scriptures; we can make a conclusion that peace is something to be encountered and valued for the experience. Peace can be seen as a commodity, something to be given and received. "Possessed" for too long, it will spoil. It is only refreshed by being given away.
Matthew 10:13
Matthew 10:34- "bring peace" -(906 in Strong's), bring = "to throw or let go without caring where it falls, to scatter, to throw, cast into, to pour out, 2. to put into, insert.
Luke 10:5&6
Luke 12:51- "grant peace" -(1325 in Strong's), grant = to give, to give to someone, to bestow a gift. Give something that brings benefit to the other person. To grant, to supply.
John 14:27- "peace I leave" -(863 in Strong's), leave = to send away, to give up, keep no longer, not to hinder, to leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining.
- "my peace I give" -(1325 in Strong's), give = "grant" (see above).
2 Corinthians 1:2
Galatians 1:3
Ephesians 1:2, 6:23
Philippians 1:2
2 Thessalonians 1:2
Philemon 1:3
2 Corinthians 13:11
Ephesians 2:15,17, 4:3
Philippians 4:7
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Hebrews 7:2, 12:4
James 3:18- "make peace" -(4160 in Strong's), make = to make, to produce, be the author of, the cause, to make a thing out of something, to do, to perform, to institute.
1 Peter 1:2
1 Peter 3:11- "seek peace" -(2212 in Strong's), seek = to seek in order to find, by meditating, thinking, reasoning, aim at, strive after, to crave, demand something from someone.
1 Peter 5:14
2 Peter 1:2
3 John 1:15
Jude 1:2
Revelations 1:4
There is something here that leads us to understand that peace is a tangible "substance".
Peace itself can be defined as a state of rest, but also a lack of fear, with God and others. So for consideration sake what does it mean we are told to give our peace to one another, or to let our peace rest?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Well hello there! Welcome to me to the "blogosphere"
Thought that I would give this a try as another vehicle to communicate. Ahh, communication we thrive on it and yet we often don't do it very well.
So as my initial post this is intended to be short, I will write more later. It has been quite a while since some of you have heard from me. I must apologize for that it's not that there is nothing to communicate; it's just that life has that ability to "catch us up", sweep us away and before you know it, so much time has passed. Work, ministry, family, blah, blah, blah.
(in case you didn't know blah, blah, blah, is the modern equivalent to, "etc.")
However, in May of this year, (2009), I really feel the Lord dealt with me about to me about "focus". He called my attention to the fact that I had allowed parts of my life to get out of focus, and that I needed to do some things to regain that focus.
There is a lot that goes into losing that focus, and some definite things have to be done to regain that focus, this blog is one of those things that I have to do to regain that focus. It is my intention that this would be not only a vehicle to regain the aforementioned "focus", but also a blessing to those who would read this as we together journey through life and occasionally stop to enjoy some time at the well.
Thought that I would give this a try as another vehicle to communicate. Ahh, communication we thrive on it and yet we often don't do it very well.
So as my initial post this is intended to be short, I will write more later. It has been quite a while since some of you have heard from me. I must apologize for that it's not that there is nothing to communicate; it's just that life has that ability to "catch us up", sweep us away and before you know it, so much time has passed. Work, ministry, family, blah, blah, blah.
(in case you didn't know blah, blah, blah, is the modern equivalent to, "etc.")
However, in May of this year, (2009), I really feel the Lord dealt with me about to me about "focus". He called my attention to the fact that I had allowed parts of my life to get out of focus, and that I needed to do some things to regain that focus.
There is a lot that goes into losing that focus, and some definite things have to be done to regain that focus, this blog is one of those things that I have to do to regain that focus. It is my intention that this would be not only a vehicle to regain the aforementioned "focus", but also a blessing to those who would read this as we together journey through life and occasionally stop to enjoy some time at the well.
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