“’This will be a sign to you: You will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.’” Luke 2:12-14
Can you imagine the lowly shepherds standing in the fields enjoying the most amazing angelic concert in history? And then, as if that were not enough, the curtains of heaven are pulled back and there is this heavenly choir? The word used for “host” in Luke 2:13 is the word for “ten thousand,” which was the highest number the Greeks had any word for. Can you imagine what it must have looked and sounded like for up to 10,000 angels to be singing the first Christmas carol in divine harmony? But what is great about their song is not how it sounded, but rather what it said.
As a result of Christmas, God has offered to every single person in the world the greatest gift you could ever receive, because on earth there would be peace. You need to understand what this “peace” means. Peace on earth is not primarily referring to peace of mind. It does not mean the absence of trouble, because any peace like that is only temporary. What these angels were singing about was peace with God.
Peace treaties have been signed and peace treaties have been broken. The peace that money can buy and earthly pleasures can bring eventually wears off. But when you have peace with God you will have the peace of God that will always be with you, even when trouble is all around you.
You will never have complete peace in this life until you are at complete peace with the One who brought you into this life. The only way you can have that peace is to receive it from the Prince of Peace who was born in a manger 2,000 years ago. He is why we celebrate Christmas. He is why the angels sang; and He is why we are still singing today.
Dear Lord, I want nothing more than your peace. In a world that is filled with stress and chaos, I want to find rest in you. I pray that I would run to you every day for the peace that only you can give. In Jesus' name, amen.
Topics: Peace
