The Peace Of Christmas, Part 1

The Peace of Christmas, Part 1

As a kid, I used to love shaking snow globes. I recently saw a snow globe with a reindeer driving a red station wagon with a Christmas tree on top. The expression on the face of that reindeer was one of all-out exertion. While preparing for Christmas celebrations, I often feel like that reindeer flying ninety miles per hour down the snow globe roads of life with all sorts of pressure swirling around. Living this way can leave me longing for peace.

One of the reasons we fail to find peace not only during the holidays but during the rest of the year is because we have a wrong definition of peace. You see, when the snow globe of life swirls beyond our control, we feel panicked, stressed, or anxious. We look to the world’s definition of peace—an absence of conflict and freedom from any strife or dissension—and get discouraged when that peace doesn’t come. If this is our understanding of peace, there will always be a collision with the reality of the world and the peace that we want.

The peace of the Scripture is called shalom, which means to be secure, whole, and complete. This peace focuses more on character than circumstances.

Isaiah 9:6-7 shows us that the peace we all need is anchored in the incarnation of Christ and the inauguration of his Kingdom: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”

Do you want this peace that Jesus brings? Romans 5:1 states, “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV). Peace with God comes when we put our faith in Christ. Do you have this peace?

Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1, ESV