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The Fourth Sunday in Advent – Peace

How often do we encounter news across the internet, TV, or word of mouth depicting stories of wars, threats, and tragedies? The world is filled with trouble and hate. However, we are never without the peace Christ brings.

The Father provided a way through the starry nights, a wonder that brought anticipation of hope and eventually peace. Could the Savior of the world, the Messiah, truly come to give us peace?

We no longer sit in darkness with empty hope. Just as the Christ Child came once, He will soon come again to complete our joy. His peace is sufficient for our needs then as it is now.

Again, we are to be reminded that Advent has a special purpose to help us remember of His coming, while we also look ahead to his Kingdom that will have no end.

Man tries everything in his power to set his kingdom on earth, yet it is a faulty building that is upon sinking sand. We know the basis of our peace because it’s found in the rest of His unchanging grace.

The world around us may seem hopeless, but His work within us becomes more hopeful. Question: What are you doing as a merchant of his hope? Are you keeping the Gospel message to yourself, or freely giving it as He gave it to you?

If we desire for the candle of peace to burn brighter, the igniting of the flame starts with you and me. By the help of the Holy Spirit, we carry this light to the nations and our local communities.

You may not look at yourself in the mirror as one who has it all together, but that is exactly who the Father is looking for. The idea is not you carrying all the weight and hurt to justify your need for peace, nor does it mean that you are too condemned to receive the peace of Jesus. We all have sinned and fallen short; but He is Jesus, lover of sinners and the lifter of our heads. (Romans 3:23, Psalm 3:3)

God is more interested in His hope being carried in you to a hurting world. We are not prisoners of war; we have been set free as messengers of His peace.

In the midst of a census, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be born in a manger, a humble place of birth for the Prince of Peace.

As we celebrate His birth, let us remember that God’s peace is not just given to us, but it is a gift that we should give to everyone we encounter. Let us spend this season doing more than just offering words of joy, peace, and love along with gift cards and presents; let us use this season to actively seek peace with those who, for whatever reason, have been isolated from our lives.

May we promote the peace that passes all understanding through our words and actions.

Reflection:

Recall how you were once far off from God and yet He sent Jesus to be your peace, to break down the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:11-18). What words can you speak to bring peace to a relationship or situation? What actions can you take to provide reconciliation and testimony to God’s forgiveness? Do not just be hearers of God’s Word; be doers of it and seek peace in this season.