I love the Christmas season. One of the things I enjoy is taking the family around and looking at Christmas lights and decorations around town. Some are absolutely amazing and some, like our house, are very simple and minimal. As we drive around, I see many yards with decorations declaring “Peace”.
Jesus did indeed come to bring “peace on earth”. But I think we are sometimes confused on what that peace is. We focus on peace in our society. A time of no wars and all men living in harmony with each other. But the peace that Jesus came to give is a peace within. A personal, inner peace.
I listen to people talk about the fear they live in. Fear of what others will think. Fear of the evil in our society. They talk about their dreams/nightmares. Their fear keeps them from living the life and doing the things they want to do. Their lack of peace keeps them laying in bed at night, unable to sleep.
Many of these same people talk about the movies they watch. They can’t miss an episode of the daily news because they have to know and be aware of what is going on around them. They ready the horror books and love to visit the haunted houses in October. They claim that none of these things bother them, but talk about not being able to sleep, being afraid to go certain places, and have a limited understanding of what peace is.
When we fill our lives every day with the sights and sounds of evil. When we fill our minds three times a day with all the bad things happening around us, it is no wonder we have a society that lives in fear. Jesus came to bring peace. A peace that passes all understanding. Fill our minds with the good things. Fill our minds with everything that is right. Focus on good, and peace will be a natural result of that.
I pray that during this Christmas season, you will find the peace that comes from Jesus, the one whose birth we celebrate. A peace for this season and beyond.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Phillipians 4:4-9 (NIV)
