THE CHILDREN'S PEACE

Many people in many countries enjoy the benefits of a river without knowing its source. It is a strange thing that in the case of the Thames, perhaps the best known of rivers, the source is to this day a matter of argument. But we do know that peace like a river comes from God Himself. Each writer in the New Testament, in every book but one, mentions peace as one of the believer's great blessings. Indeed the epistle written to children, with their mother, tells us that it comes from the Father and the Son.

Peace has therefore been provided for us since it has been made by the blood of Jesus shed when on the cross at Calvary. Sins give a bad conscience and in his way persons become enemies of God in their thoughts and minds. But the gospel tells us that the One against whom we have sinned has Himself made a way for us to be friends and not enemies.

Not only is this so, but peace is proclaimed just as a herald tells good news. Christ Himself first preached the glad tidings of peace to those who were afar off and also to those who were near - the Jews. One glory of the gospel is that it went out first to those who actually brought about the death of Jesus although it is God's power to salvation "to every one that believes", whoever it may be.

Peace with God is thus possessed by those who have faith. When we are given some priceless gift we naturally want to enjoy it as much as possible and find out all about it. There is therefore the teaching the gospel as well as the preaching. In olden times it was promised that even the children should be taught of God, "and great shall be the peace of thy children".

The scripture says of the Lord Jesus that "he is our peace" so that peace is also personified in Him. This is another glory of the gospel, that we not only believe the words of truth but believe in the Person who is the truth. Children sometimes have to suffer for the Lord's sake; they may also be troubled because of wrong things done or thought. But knowing Jesus as our peace keeps us near to God where there can be nothing to disturb. Do you know a Saviour who has not only died for you but now lives for you?

J.C. Evershed