Prince of Peace

I love this scripture, for the first time in my life! Growing up in the Lutheran tradition, we as believers never really applied these words to our everyday lives. It was assumed, at least from my childhood perspective of the Kingdom, that if you were a Lutheran, all of these quotes and scripture references were ALL INCLUSIVE. I saw it kind of like a “package deal” you got when you were born, like a cruise or resort that had everything covered. As Lutherans, when you were born into this world, as long as you were baptized(sprinkled from a basin) as an infant, you were in the “club”(saved).

This way of thinking never allowed for any deeper dive into the Word or any necessity to ask questions about, well… anything. So, when I read John 16:33 recently, I never saw that I had a simple choice to make, but here is the non-Lutheran response… I had to make it! Jesus never said that you would not have tribulation, He said, “In the world(Lutheran, in my case) you would, BUT don’t lose heart, I have overcome the world.”

Today may be the first time for you to say, “I am going to choose Christ, not because there won’t be tribulation, because there will be, but He overcame it, and I choose Him.” Our religious systems(all inclusive), cannot save you from this world. Believers in Christ and a right relationship with Him has already done that for you! Go out and make the awesome choice of following Christ, He is the Prince of Peace now and forever.