Peace

We all want peace, we pray for peace, there are peace organizations; in fact Jesus came to the earth described by Isaiah as the Prince of peace. I have been doing some reading on the birth of Christ and a devotional I read struck me, Matthew 10:34 says," Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Jesus states in John 15 that the world will hate you because of him. So what is the peace that we all talk about and pray for? Christians recognize there is a battle being fought in the heavenly realms. Can there really be peace when both good and evil exist? can peace happen when both God and Satan are fighting in the realms when we are torn to do good but sometimes do evil. Should we pray for peace or should we pray for strength to handle the evil one? Then what did Isaiah mean when he called Jesus the prince of peace? How can that be full filled to let prophecy come true?
It is only 3 days till Christmas and if you are like me I picture that first Christmas as, you guessed it, peaceful. But was it, have you been around a birth? it is not peaceful in the room with nurses and doctors and everybody making sure all things are good and healthy, no imagine that without the help of nurses and doctors, I would not be at peace, have you been on a farm around livestock? it is not my idea of peaceful. yet we look at the birth as quiet and peaceful, maybe just maybe we have pictured it wrong or I have pictured it wrong. When you are together with people over Christmas how is it peaceful? Maybe it isn't peaceful then think of the battle being fought for you in the heavenly realms, maybe that is more real, maybe that is a better picture of Christianity and what the Prince of peace come into. Take heart Isaiah did not lie, Isaiah did not misunderstand God, we have not made a mistake for the last 2000+ years Jesus is the prince of peace for his kingdom. it is the future glory to look forward to of peace for all. Pray for strength as you talk to those who don't know Jesus, those who are not understanding of who Jesus is and wants to be to them. Keep fighting and being a warrior for the kingdom you will see peace maybe not on the earth.