In his poem “Christmas Bells” Longfellow writes in the shadow of the Civil War in America. When North and South are less than united. Peace seems like a distant memory or a long way off finish line.
Peace seems unattainable at times in life. Circumstances, situations, and even long seasons can be times where it seems it isn’t possible for peace to be present.
Have you been there? Do you realize that is not what God wants for you? He did, after all, send the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
I believe the birth of Jesus Christ is the greatest event in all of history. This is the day when God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, took on the form of a baby boy and stepped into a physical body.
Read Luke 2:1-20. The angels tell of the birth of Jesus by declaring “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.” Make no mistake about it, God’s proposition to mankind is peace. Peace existed back in the garden of Eden before man sinned and had the knowledge of good and evil. Peace exist and is made available to us because of the person of Jesus Christ. Why because He is the embodiment of God and man. In Jesus God and man are united, therefore peace.
The birth of Jesus and the peace He brings was not by accident or happenstance, God was intentional in providing peace.
What about you? Are you in pursuit of peace? Peace of heart exist when the Almighty and you agree. When your desires line up with His desires. So many things in life can rob of our peace. Events, goals, plans, lack of security, and to be perfectly honest the minuscule things of life. I think we will do well to maintain peace if we keep the main thing the Main Thing, Jesus. Put your priorities in place and find the things that burden you aren’t anywhere close to the top of the list. And those that truly belong near the top aren’t nearly as burdensome when you realize what Jesus Christ the Messiah says to you.
Remember what Jesus says to us.
Matthew 11: 28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Christmas Bells
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”