Peace on EarthSample

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” Luke 2:14

Do you know of anyone whose birth was announced by supernatural beings filling up the sky larger than any fireworks you have ever seen? This is one of the unique phenomena that accompany the birth of Jesus. Jesus’ birth is not just a great event, it is the event of all mankind and of all time! As the Christmas Carol rightly says – The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

You will hear this refrain in songs, posters, cards, etc. during the Christmas season. We can get overfamiliar with some of these texts and not stop to ponder the weight of these words. Over the next few days, we will reflect on this phrase.

Why is the announcement of this birth so special?

Luke 2: 11, “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Today or this day – This birth is special because it is a day recorded in history. It is not mythology or a fairy tale! Jesus was born in a real historical time during the rule of Caesar Augustus. He was born in Bethlehem to fulfil all Messianic prophecies given hundreds of years before His birth. Even though Mary and Joseph were from Nazareth, God orchestrated history that everyone needed to register with the census in their own city, which caused Mary and Joseph to make that journey to Bethlehem.

Glory to God in the highest.

Never was, and never since has anyone’s birth been heralded by angles, and never with these words.

Glory to God in the highest – i.e., in every realm from the highest heavens to earth below, God will be glorified. God will be magnified and acknowledged. His splendor will be made known through this child wrapped in swaddling clothes. And wherever He is glorified in people’s lives, the rule of His government and peace shall go on and on. Habakkuk prophesied this too “The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” (Hab2:14). That happens when many people become children of God and spread His shalom or peace through their demonstration of Kingdom lifestyle. This was the reason Jesus left heaven to come to earth, which is what the angels were announcing.

REFLECT

·When you are tempted to doubt how your life will work out, recount this event in history and rejoice that God has our time and life safe in his hands.

·Pause and think, is my life bringing glory to God? Are people becoming aware of who Jesus is because of my Kingdom lifestyle choices?