Where is ‘Peace on Earth’?

Christmas sometimes brings a mixed bag of the joyful, the sad, the beautiful or the greed.?We rejoice in the miracle of our Creator submitting Himself to the womb of a woman He created. We celebrate the advent of God?s mysterious plan for salvation. We cherish the extra time the holidays carve out for spending with loved ones.

We can also grieve for loved ones no longer with us, or long-standing ruptures within families still refusing to heal. We may cringe when we see others (or realize we ourselves) sometimes express impatience or greed for the temporal and material—striving to recreate the childhood thrill that material possessions can only momentarily reproduce. We also cringe at wide-spread war and prejudices, where not all is calm, not all is bright, and that seem to mock the angelic proclamation of?peace on earth.

The truth is, peace really does exist on earth, no matter what may try to thwart it. Peace on earth and goodwill toward men is a reality. So where is it?

Do we look for presidents and kings and governmental leaders to bring peace? Do we expect ministers and priests and church leaders to do it? Do we look for changes of policy and law to finally establish peace? Sometimes our loud complaints bring change, but does it really bring long-term peace, or is it simply a thrill that outward happiness can only momentarily produce?

Even if our leaders make godly policies, it can bring peace only to the extent that the people—that refers to us—walk with peace in our hearts. And the reverse is true—even if our leaders make ungodly policy with injustice and persecution, it can’t upset the peace we guard in our hearts.

Peace?isn’t a ‘thing’ or ‘idea’ or ‘policy.’ Peace is a Person, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, whose government of peace will have no end. If we look for peace in any place outside of relationship with the Prince of Peace, no matter how promising, we will always find disappointment.

Christ?within you and me?His kingdom within us—that?is where we find lasting peace. We are the bearers of Christ’s government of peace on earth, only as Christ lives and moves and has His being in us. We bear the image of God that reflects His peace into the families and communities where He has placed us.?We have amazing power, as Christ followers, to establish His rule of peace in every situation that we encounter, simply by shining His presence.

It?s our choice. We can yield to the flow of hopelessness, fear, demanding rights, or demanding that everyone else bring peace, or we can intentionally allow Christ?s love to overcome the darkness with every gesture, every word, in every situation and conversation. What a gift to give Jesus on His birthday! Go ahead and celebrate His life by letting His peace shine.

Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 2:14; 17:21; Acts 17:28; Romans 14:17; James 3:17-18