The Price of Peace

Isaiah 53:4-6

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Price of Peace

I am a warrior. Well, I was. I used to be in the Navy. Now, I never saw direct combat. I wasn't deployed to a ship. But we were all trained the same way, whether our job was to direct the fire, report the fire or to be in the line of fire. We all served. Where and how we served was left up to our commanders. I had no say in whether I was in Afghanistan or Augusta, GA. Regardless of assignment, I was to do my job along with the other soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines around me.

One of the many things my time in the military taught me very clearly is that peace is never free. Peace costs. Whether it's peace for a nation, or peace in the house, it costs something. The price can range from compromise to blood, but it has a price.

This passage from Isaiah is oft quoted, but I know I didn't fully understand it. The chastisement of our peace...the penalty of our peace...the price for us to have peace...was upon Him; the Precious One, Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of the very peace He paid for with His own blood. He bore what is rightfully our punishment and left peace in the wake.

That's some price.

Dear ones, there is peace. Despite the storms, we have peace. It's been bought and paid for, right along with our salvation and our restoration to God. Peace is as available as healing, and all the other gifts of Christ.

And, like all those other things, we have to receive it. But, as Isaiah recorded, we like sheep have gone off in our own thing, ignoring, underappreciating or even refusing these gifts. And even the price of our straying was paid.

The price for your peace was high, but it's been bought and paid for. You have no debt with God thanks to Christ.

If I offered to pay for your dinner, wouldn't you go ahead and eat it?

If you got to the end of a vacation and someone paid your bill, would you accept it?

If you were found guilty of a crime, and someone else chose to fufill your sentence...?

Your bill has been paid. The table has been set. There is peace available because your sins have been forgiven. What will you give Him in return?

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.


Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

We have the inviation at Fellowship. We would be happy to have you join us at the Bride Supper of the Lamb. There's room for you in our carpool.

Peace...paid for, complete and total peace.

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message. Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor