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Christmas Peace


Christmas Peace!
Luke 19:38 (NIV)
38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Acts 10:34-36 (NIV)
34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Romans 5:1 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 2:14 (NIV)
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

Christmas is a message of Peace between God and Mankind.  "God so loved the world..." and it's because of Jesus' birth that peace between God and Mankind can occur.  Also, it's because of Jesus that we can have peace between each other.
For most of our lives we have not had much experience with peace.  The world lives in conflict and in my lifetime our nation has fought in war after war seeking to establish peace - but it still is elusive.
When I think of families on Christmas day being together I cannot help but think of families who are not together because their sons and daughters are gone to war.  Our military is thousands of miles away from home, and somehow "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" seems appropriate.

It is sometimes hard to believe that God will establish peace upon the earth through Jesus Christ - but I believe he will.
With Christmas Day upon us, let me tell you a story of a famous Christmas carol.
Back in 1864, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heard bells from a church steeple ringing on Christmas day.  It was the time of the Civil War.  He had lost his wife in a tragic accident in 1861, and almost lost his son in 1863, who was shot through the shoulder while fighting in one of the Civil War battles.  
That Christmas he heard the bells ringing, and something inside of him happened.  Rather than the cynicism and doubt of what the war was doing to his family, and country; instead something stirred within him that caused him to pause and reflect.
He sat down and composed this carol that reflected on Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace.  It was a statement on his part that though evil from mankind continue, the truth is that God HAS done something to bring peace upon the earth.  

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

I awoke this morning to the idea that I would ask each of you to join me in praying Jesus' prayer:
"Lord, let your Kingdom come, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Believe...Believe...Believe...Merry Christmas







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