His Peace

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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 among those with whom he is pleased!” —Luke 2:12–14

 

What is peace?  Quite simply, the absence of war!  Warring among men on earth isn’t new to this century, neither is war with God.  In the Bethlehem sky, angels announced peace but only to a select group of people: “among those with whom He is pleased.”  John Piper wrote, “So Christmas does not bring peace to all.” (Good News of Great Joy).  Not unlike the culture to which Jesus was born, the world has secularized Christmas to little more than a self-pleasing, self-gratifying time of year.  If peace eludes us, we must ask: how pleased or displeased is God with me?  Hebrews 11:6 says “without faith it is impossible to please God” – the angels declared peace to those who believe, those who seek the Christ.  The wise really do seek Him still – they are rewarded with His Peace.