The Savior–yes, the Messiah, the Lord–has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others–the armies of heaven–praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. – Luke 2:11-14
Peace is such a lovely word, yet something that seems hard to come by in our daily lives. I am struck by the need for Peace this Christmas. It was a central theme of the ministry of Jesus, even from the earliest proclamation of his arrival by the angels that first Christmas.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. – Matthew 5:9
Jesus not only taught about living at peace, but He was infact the embodiment of peace and His act of self-sacrifice on the cross won a lasting peace between God and man, a way to end the perpetual state of war that sin had caused. We can come to God through Christ and live in peace with Him as His children.
I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. – John 14:27
And this hard won Peace is a permanent thing, not a temporary, fleeting feeling of peace as some experience it in the world. It’s a beautiful gift, perhaps the best we can receive this Christmas. And, like Jesus who went before us, we can take this peace out into the world with us and share it with others.
He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. – Ephesians 2:17-18
I pray you experience God’s Peace, hard-won by Jesus death & resurrection and imparted to humanity by The Holy Spirit this Christmas season