The Prince of Peace

By Donna Martin

“And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6). 

Mounting bills, lost jobs, disobedient children, unfaithful spouses, angry drivers, selfish people, unreasonable bosses, rude associates all contribute to chaos in our lives every day.  Look at the news for five minutes and you will not see or feel much peace.

When the angels appeared on the night Jesus was born they said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace goodwill to men.” (KJV)  Is there peace and goodwill in your home?

So many times in the day to day hustle and bustle of life, we forget to bring peace and goodwill home to our spouse and children.  After a busy day at work or taking care of the kids it is easy to snap at our spouse and treat them worse than we would ever dare treat our boss or our friend.

So how can we bring peace into our marriage relationship?  In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus instructed us to pray “…Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven?” (Matt. 6:10)  How can you make your home a little bit of heaven on earth?  Perhaps by being more like Jesus.  But what does that mean?  In Philippians 2:7 the Bible says that Jesus “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.”  Jesus was unselfish in his love.  He loved us not so that he could get something in return, not so that we would do something for him, he just loved us to the extent that he the King of Kings became a servant.

So even when life gets hectic and things do not go the way you planned for them to go at home or at work, step back, count to ten, and pray that you can treat your spouse and your children the way that Jesus would treat them.  Love them unconditionally and unselfishly.

However, this is not possible to do on our own.  To love others unconditionally we need to experience the unconditional love of Jesus in our own hearts and lives.

Perhaps you do not know the Prince of Peace.  What better way to celebrate the Christmas season than to trust in Jesus.  It is simple to do.

Know this. 

We are all sinners – “… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23)

The penalty for sin is death – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Christ Died for you – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were sinners, Christ dies for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

You can be saved through faith – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God’s gift to you is His grace.  We don’t deserve it and we can’t earn it.  We can accept it by faith.  If you haven’t trusted Christ, what’s keeping you from doing that today?  Pray today and tell God that you are trusting Him as your savior.  Then you can experience the inner peace that only Christ can give.

Merry Christmas and Peace to all.

The Martins currently present “Happy Together” marriages seminars for churches and organizations.  To schedule a seminar call Michael at 940-735-1515. They also publish a weekly “Happy Together” Blog about family and marriage issues.  You can order copies of their new books Dancing With Death and 366 Tidbits We Have Learned in 14,610 Days of Marriage, read, and subscribe to their “Happy Together” Blog by logging onto the Martin’s website at www.happytogethermarriage.com.