God cares about you and wants you to experience his peace this Christmas. The angels proclaimed that the Messiah would bring "peace on earth," and Christ is actively bringing peace today. Among the gods and goddesses of the Greek world, none were really compassionate toward mankind, none really sought to establish peace. The Christian message stood in stark contrast with its message of peace. Because God cares about us, he brings peace into our lives.
Christ brings peace in three ways. First, he brings peace between us and God. Our sins and our sinful natures have made us enemies of God, but the Bible proclaims we are forgiven in Christ: "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). Second, we have peace in our own souls, peace with ourselves, that banishes fear from our hearts, as Christ said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).
Third, we have the potential to have peace with one another through Christ as well. The Bible says: "Comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you" (2 Corinthians 13:11). We can experience the peace of God in our homes and in our church. Conflict is not necessary, We may live in the grace and patient forgiveness of God. May God give you his peace this Christmas time!
