I think it's so ironic: Jesus promises us peace, in fact, he urges us to be peacemakers, yet the world seems so hostile.  Has there ever been world-wide peace?  If not, why not?  Is it so foreign to our nature?  And if it's an integral part of God's kingdom, why aren't we willing to lay down our lives as peacemakers to walk with Christ as He ushers in the Kingdom of God?

This issue dove tails nicely with Dale Kauffman's sermon.  Will we ever enter into peace trying to fix our world or, for that matter, another person?  Hardly!  We can work for peace all we want, but we're missing the core issue and thus the remedy.  It's only when we align with Christ's remedy to heal a broken and confused world that we'll see results. 

The "self" is at the very heart of our own self destruction.  Unless and until we dethrone the self and enthrone Christ as the Lord of our life, there will always be conflict, and war, and sin, and brokeness.  

I've got to be candid with you.  All the war we've been involved with over the last 9 years as a country, has been numbing!  But I still hold out hope for peace.  I believe the solution does not lie in international diplomacy, though I believe such efforts are necesary.  I believe the solution lies at a more fundamental level, one that lies deep in the soul: everyone's need for a Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ entrusts us with the gospel to reconcile and heal those in conflict.  Paul makes this point in his letter to the church in Corinth.  He writes, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Cor. 5:18-20.   

Jesus Christ said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you ...."  John 14:27. 

We are called to be peacemakers, not of our own power but by the power of the Holy Spirit and Word of God.  Can there ever be peace on earth?  How do we become  peacemakers?  These are all great questions we'll talk about in our Life Groups.

By the way, have I personally wished each and everyone of you a blessed Christmas Season?  If I haven't, please accept my sincere wishes for a blessed and memorable and  peace-filled Christmas season.  

Blessings,

Pastor Michael