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CURRENT RADIO SERIES Why Believe: Home for the Holidays   CURRENT TV SERIES Songs for the Savior

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11           A department store put a Nativity scene in one of its display windows one Christmas. As a window-shopping couple walked by, the gentleman said to his wife, “Look there! The church is trying to take over Christmas now!”            Unfortunately, many people look at Christmas just that way. They like the lights, the presents, Santa Claus, and family time, but they don’t know the true meaning and reality of Christmas. They completely miss the reason for the season … Jesus Christ!           I wonder what would happen in our hearts, our families, and our lives if each and every one of us decided today that this Christmas was going to be fully dedicated to the Lord. Yes, we can have lights, presents, and Santa. But what if we made things different by focusing our families and friends on the reality of Jesus Christ?           You can make the decision to make that happen right now. Begin by simply reading the Christmas story with your family and praying with one another. When you let Christ take over Christmas, you’ll take the first step toward surrendering your entire life to Him.

The Prince of Peace

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Isaiah 9:6–7

According to the latest report I’ve seen, there are about sixty wars, armed conflicts, revolutions, and skirmishes taking place in our world right now. In Syria alone, the civil war that has raged for six years now has left almost half a million people dead and more than two million others have fled their homes to try to avoid the fighting. We live in a world filled with strife and conflict. But this is not new. Division has been a part of human life since sin entered into the world.
The bottom line of human conflict is not resources, borders, tribes, languages, or glory, but sin. Indeed apart from God we have no expectation of anything but warfare and division. “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22). No matter how diligently we work or how devoutly we wish, the sinful nature lurking in the hearts of mankind constantly works against peace.
But in the person of Jesus, we are offered the solution to every conflict. He is the only ruler who offers hope for a lasting peace, and peace is His promise to those who are His children by virtue of receiving His salvation. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Our only hope for peace with God, with ourselves, and with others is found in Jesus Christ.