Pieces of Peace

This message invites us to reconsider what peace truly means in our chaotic, overwhelming world. Drawing from Isaiah's prophecy through to the fulfillment in Christ, we discover that Jesus didn't arrive in a peaceful world—He came into chaos bringing peace that cannot be stolen from us. The Hebrew concept of 'Sar Shalom'—Prince of Peace—reveals Jesus as the one with authority to bring wholeness, restoration, and right relationship with God. What's striking is that peace isn't the absence of hardship; it's the presence of Someone in the midst of our struggles. From the angels' proclamation at His birth to His words before the cross, we see that Jesus offers peace that transcends circumstances. The most profound truth? For us to have peace with God, Jesus endured the punishment we deserved. Isaiah 53 reminds us that He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities—the chastisement that brought us peace fell upon Him. This isn't situational peace that depends on everything going right; this is relational peace with a Savior who never changes. When we grasp this, we realize that no diagnosis, financial crisis, family conflict, or loss can rob us of the peace we have in Christ. We're called not just to receive this peace, but to become 'pieces of peace' in a fractured world—small but significant carriers of the Prince of Peace to everyone we encounter.