Is peace possible?

Micah, the prophet, inspired by the Spirit of God says, "Yes!" Peace is not only possible, it is promised. "Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, And rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. " (Micah 4:2-4, NKJV)

That passage is etched on the wall of the entry to the United Nations in New York City, reflecting the charter of that organization to seek peace for this planet. As noble as the aspiration may be, it is an impossible charge for any group apart from the intervention of the Almighty! Self-interest is woven deeply into the human psyche. Individuals, as well as nations, are in the grip of a 'me first' attitude and will always find a way to protect their advantages - even at the cost of violence. That is why there is no true peace until...

The Prince of Peace comes to us! Micah saw that only when the impartial Lord of Creation brought His law and rebuke could peace finally dawn on this earth. Recognizing this, we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus. May your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven." The arrival of the Prince of Peace will bring the Age of Peace.

Peace starts in us individually and we need not wait for the Second Coming to know His peace personally. At the birth of Jesus, the angels announced - “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” (Luke 2:14, NLT) At the Last Supper, the Lord told His disciples - “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27, NLT) Paul writes that peace is one of the primary evidences of the Spirit life in us. When Jesus reigns in our lives, we are secure. Though we walk through a world full of threats - both spiritual and natural - we need not live defensively or fearfully. Instead, we can enjoy peace in the middle of the storm, assured that the One who leads us will keep us.

If we are without peace of mind, it reveals an inadequate faith. We learn this from an experience of the disciples who walked with the Lord. When they found themselves in precarious moment, in a little boat on a stormy lake, they screamed in terror - "Master, don't you care that we are about to perish?" But when Jesus woke up to their yells, He stood up and spoke to the storm, "Peace, be still!" Mark tells us that instantly the wind died and the waves calmed. The possibility of peace existed all the time, but the disciples lacked the faith to access it. Their response drew a sharp rebuke from the Lord Jesus who said, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?” (Mark 4:40, NLT)

Yes, peace is possible and we can experience it, if and/or when we give up our need to own our lives. When we hand over the reins of life to Him, with full faith, a serenity comes to us, a divine peace. As long as we live in the center of His will, we have no reason to be afraid. This is both a challenging and comforting word, isn't it? We want so badly to blame our lack of peace on other people, on situations we believe to be 'out of control,' on a world gone mad around us. The fact is - if we lack peace, it reveals our own need to move closer to the Master, to pray for calming faith.

Today, seek peace! First, receive the inner peace that comes when Jesus sets you right with God. Then, receive the peace that comes with faith to trust Him with every detail of your life. As you live in peace, you will bring peace to a world that desperately needs peace-makers.
______________________
When the world
That I've been living in
Collapses at my feet,
When my life
Is shattered and torn,
Tho' I'm windswept and battered,
I can cling to His cross
And find peaceIn the midst of my storm.

There is peace in the midst
Of my storm-tossed life.
Oh, there's an Anchor,
There's a Rock,
To cast my faith upon.
Jesus rides in my vessel,
So I'll fear no alarm.
He gives me peace
In the midst of my storm.

Peace In The Midst Of The Storm-- Adams, Stephen R.
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