Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. – Isaiah 26:3
I love the Christmas season. It is the time of the year when we celebrate the arrival of the Messiah, our Lord and Savior, Jesus. It is the time of the year when the phrase “peace on earth and goodwill toward men” is heard quite a bit. As we look around this Christmas season and see all of the riots, all of the social unrest and division in our nation in addition to all of the brutal killings of the innocent all over the world, there are many who would ask: “where is the peace on earth and goodwill toward men that these angels proclaimed that very first Christmas morning?”. What did the angels bringing the good news to the shepherds mean when they said “peace on earth and goodwill toward men”? Luke 2:14
Notice that the angels did not say goodwill “between” men but rather goodwill “toward” men. In other words, this is a peace and goodwill between God and man not between man and man. It is only through our Savior Jesus Christ that we can ever experience peace with God. What the angels were proclaiming on that special night was not that Christ’s birth meant worldwide peace and goodwill between mankind. Rather, their message was that for anyone who would receive this holy child in the manger as their Lord and Savior, that there would be peace on earth for them with God and that there would be good will toward them from God. May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Do you really know what “peace on earth and goodwill toward man” means? If not, I pray you experience it’s true meaning this Christmas. Check out this week’s featured song “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”. Merry Christmas everyone!
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. – John 14:27
Leave a Reply