What do you think of when you hear the word peace? My mind automatically goes to a spa-like atmosphere and a massage, or cuddling up with a cozy blanket, a cup of tea and a warm fire. Just thinking about those things automatically relaxes my shoulders as I exhale.
But this time of year, moments of this kind of peace get crowded out. That’s what brings me to this topic today. I want to start with a phrase we hear in our Christmas songs and our sermons. We find it in the scriptures.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:13-14 NKJV
I think we need to back this story up to see the full picture.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:8-11 NKJV
The shepherd’s first reaction to the angel’s appearance was one of fear. Were they fearful because they were thinking the angel was coming to slay them in judgement? Were they considering their sins or their lack of religious activity? That may well have been the case, but the angel had good news and the heavenly hosts backed him up. Let’s move to another verse.
…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1b NIV
The proclamation of peace and goodwill was foretelling what would transpire: Jesus, paying the death penalty for our sins, resulting in way for us to be in God’s presence. Look further into this passage of Romans.
And there is still much more to say of his unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God. So if while we were still enemies, God fully reconciled us to himself through the death of his Son, then something greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion!
Romans 5:9-10 TPT
Is this not what the angel was declaring, a promise of peace? A hope that we would escape God’s wrath over the sins that separated us from Him?
There are other well known scriptures about peace. Here’s one:
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.
John 14:27 CSB
So how is peace defined in worldly terms?
Peace is a stress-free state of security and calmness that comes when there’s no fighting or war, everything coexisting in perfect harmony and freedom.
Reading that definition makes me laugh, (or maybe cry). I think the reality is that what the world calls peace is an empty promise. The world can’t give us a true lasting peace, but Jesus can and does. All because of His perfect love for us.
Moreover, we have seen with our own eyes and can testify to the truth that Father God has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Those who give thanks that Jesus is the Son of God live in God, and God lives in them. We have come into an intimate experience with God’s love, and we trust in the love he has for us.
God is love! Those who are living in love are living in God, and God lives through them. By living in God, love has been brought to its full expression in us so that we may fearlessly face the day of judgment, because all that Jesus now is, so are we in this world. Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection. Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.
1 John 4:14-19 TPT
Jesus gave us His peace, the fulfillment of the angel’s declaration of promise. He restored our relationship with God.
I have one last verse:
God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.
You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.
Colossians 1:19-22 CEV
So, as you are rushing around this season trying to make a perfect Christmas, and you hear the words — “peace on earth, goodwill to men” — remember who it is that gives true and perfect peace.
I hope you have a merry Christmas.
Grace & Peace,
Sandy
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The Far Reaches of Grace 