Peace on earth

Think a minute…England’s former Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, had a famous feud with Lady Astor that produced some witty, cutting exchanges between them. One day Lady Astor said to Churchill: “Sir Winston, if you were my husband, I’d give you poison!” Churchill immediately responded: “Madam, if you were my wife, I’d take it!”  

The greatest problems in the world always have been and always will be problems between people. The motto of a Pacific Island nation is, “The Way the World Should Be.”  Yet with its pure white beaches, dreamy blue ocean, balmy breezes, and relaxed, laid-back lifestyle—this island “paradise” has one of the highest suicide rates in the world! There are many conflicts between its people who cannot share life happily on this picture-perfect island.  

Even in “paradise” there is no peace. Because of the walls of hurt, even hate, between people: between parents and children, husbands and wives, different races and cultures. “The same reasons that make us quarrel with our neighbor cause war between nations.” India’s former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said: “You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.”  

The sad fact is all over our world there is “trouble in paradise.” Everywhere people are hurting, hoping someday to find real love and peace in their hearts. How about you? Your family? Your neighborhood, village or city? Your workplace or school?  

Even if we all had plenty of money and education, we’d still have walls between each other—walls of hurt, fear, mistrust, pride, prejudice, and unforgiveness. That’s why it was into this world with this problem that God Himself came to tear down these walls and bring real peace to earth.  

“The problem is if you don’t have peace within yourself, you’ll never find it anywhere else.” It must come from inside! Yet before we can have real peace and love for others, we ourselves must first be loved that way. But only the One Who is peace and love itself can love us unconditionally like that and change our heart. In fact, He’s already given us the clearest proof of His love for us: by giving His own perfectly innocent life for all of our wrong, sinful living.  

This Christmas, won’t you ask the Prince of Peace to take full charge of your heart and life? As you receive Jesus’ real love and power each day, you can begin to truly love others and remove those walls between you—since you’re getting the love and peace you need from Him.  Just think a minute…

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