text: North Side Daily Devotional: Dec 13, 2018
  We have looked at some definitions of peace from the Old and New Testaments. We know where to find the true peace, but how does the Prince of Peace pass this peace on to us?
  Uniting Man with God– Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1 NASB
  Peace is a fruit of justification – being made right with God. The peace OF God is found in Peace WITH God. Peace can only be ours through a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Peace is a gift based on what Jesus did – not on what we do or achieve. Real peace is "through Jesus Christ"
  Uniting Man with Men- with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3 NASB
  Jesus brought together Jew and Gentile, slave and free and still unites those separated through His Spirit.
  The Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is…
  1. A sentinel which guards the heart and the fellowship. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NASB
  2. An umpire to rule or thoughts – to arbitrate, to govern Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15 NASB
  3. Peace wants to umpire your decisions. Have you ever made a decision because you felt peace? This was the umpire of peace at work in your life.
  a) When you allow peace to umpire your thoughts, you are giving peace final authority!
  b) You can argue with the umpire if you wish – but the result is a total loss of peace!
  c) You cannot play the game of life without an umpire. The result would be constant chaos and confusion. The owner of the team and the league president have given the umpire final authority on the field to make the decisions. We must give the umpire of peace final authority to make our decisions.
  Uniting Man with Himself- Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! 2 Thessalonians 3:16 NASB
  Sin not only separates us from God but creates a separate identity in us against the Spirit. In Romans 7 identifies this ugly side of us as the body of death. Jesus brings peace to us by making us one again. He brings a peace that can be found nowhere else. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 NASB
  When speaking of this peace Paul said it this way - And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
  The need of every person is quiet peace which allows us to enjoy life and relationships. We can search far and wide, but we won't find what we are looking for until we look to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. He is the only one who can give us what we so desperately seek.