PEACE ON EARTH!

PEACE ON EARTH!

Luke 2:10-14

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

         The angels announced a new era with the birth of Jesus. God would soon be dealing with man in a new way called grace and the result would be peace.

         Peace comes when we know that our pursuits are pure and our methods are honorable. None can accuse Jesus of anything but success whether he was feeding 5000 on a hillside or speaking with only one tortured woman at a well. Jesus was relational in His ministry. He touched lepers, hugged children and formed a spit ball to restore the blind. He was a hands-on guy. It is hard to look a crowd in the eye!

         Peace comes when one’s pace is slow enough to observe beauty and perceive harmony. No music is sweeter than the timpani of thunder and the rain on a roof. No beauty is more lovely than the flowers when they grow in spring or the snow that covers earth’s ugliness in winter.

          Oh, how we long for God’s peace this morning! Many are the tasks yet unfinished. Still painful are the relationships still broken by conflict. Injustice still seeks out the weak and innocent to oppress and there is none to rescue. We need a little peace on earth and good will toward men.

Dear Lord, give us a convincing glimpse of your presence today. I know I am asking to walk a few steps by sight instead of by faith, but even Moses was covered by your hand and given a view of you walking away. We have seen too much pain, give us a bit of peace.  AMEN