Most of us are familiar with the biblical account of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. If not from reading the Bible, then perhaps from watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special.
(A friend told me he can’t read the story of Christ’s birth without hearing the voice of Linus in his head.)
My mind used to get snagged on the angelic proclamation in Luke 2 about “peace on earth” because I’d wonder, “Where is it? Where’s the peace?”
We’re supposed to be celebrating the birth of the “Prince of Peace,” but peace can be hard to come by during this season.
“All is calm …”? Really? Been to Walmart lately?
While I’m at it, I might as well mention that although I obviously don’t know what Mary’s labor experience was like, if it was anything like mine, I’m pretty sure “silent” and “calm” might not accurately describe the birth of Christ, no matter how sweetly and sincerely we sing “Silent Night.”
I wonder if the lyrics of that carol were written by a bachelor who’d never been within a mile of a woman delivering a baby, let alone a woman in a stable before epidurals were invented.
Zaccharias, the father of John the Baptist, prophesied that the coming Messiah, Jesus, would “guide our feet into the way of peace.”
How did we wander off the path?
Rather than floating through Christmas on a serenity cloud, many of us are reaching for the Alka-Seltzer as we bake 15 dozen cookies, deck the halls, make sure we buy gifts for everyone who might buy gifts for us, and wonder how we’ll pay the credit-card piper in January.
And yet, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you,” and He didn’t add, “…except, of course, when you’re celebrating My birthday.”
So there has to be a way to experience peace all the time, even in this busiest of seasons.
I think we may need to start with our definition of “peace.” I think the peace Jesus promises has little to do with what’s going on around us, and everything to do with what’s going on inside us.
After all, Jesus is the one who was peacefully napping on a sinking ship in the middle of a ferocious storm. (Matthew 8)
Regardless of how crazy things get around us, God has told us that His supernatural peace will “guard our hearts” when we thankfully bring our burdens, anxieties and requests to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).
I’ve also discovered that when I focus on pleasing God first and foremost, my stress level goes way down. Heeding one voice greatly simplifies and quiets my life.
But
Mankind was at war with God, having broken the sacred bond with our Creator through rebellion and prideful independence. But God mercifully and lovingly reached out and made a way for us to come back.
Jesus was, and is, that way.
The eternal, unholy war with God can be over for each of us. Salvation, peace, heaven.
Or it can rage on. Disconnection, turmoil, hell.
Christmas brought us a chance to choose.
Immanuel has come: God with us.
When He comes into our lives, He brings peace. Not necessarily easy circumstances, but the deeper peace of a right relationship with the God who made us and loves us perfectly.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ …” – Romans 5:1