WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Luke 2:14 (NLT)
HE CAME TO GIVE ME PEACE WITH GOD
A little boy and a little girl were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church the Sunday before Christmas. The boy concluded “Silent Night” with the words, “sleep in heavenly beans.” His sister elbowed him, and said, “No. Not beans, peas!” The way many of us feel by the time we are ready for Christmas, the song might just as well end with beans or peas instead of peace. Because sometimes in the frantic rush to get everything done the peace of the season seems to elude us.
When the angels appeared to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, their initial reaction was not peace. They were afraid. The angels assured them they had “good news of great joy.” The antidote to fear is Jesus. Sin separates us from God and should cause us to fear God. But when Jesus came, He took the punishment for our sins and paved the way for us to have peace with God in place of the fear of God. Romans 5:1 teaches, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
REFLECTION
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wanted to know if the angels were feeding us a line when they announced Jesus’ birth with “Peace on Earth goodwill to men?” Do you think the angels were feeding us a line? Why do you believe there isn’t more peace in the world? How can Jesus bring peace and goodwill to earth?
PRAISE
Praise God for the promise of Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”
