And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:14
We hear a lot about “peace on earth” this time of year. We hear it in songs and see it on greeting cards, but in reality, we do not see it on very many faces. Peace is something everyone wants, yet few seem to find. Peace has been described as “tranquility, harmony, or security,” but we know there is far more to peace than a simple definition.
Peace is something that can only come into the heart when we are right with God. The Lord Jesus went to the Cross and took the chastisement of our peace upon Himself (Isaiah 53:5), making it possible for us to have peace with God. Paul reminds us, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
Having peace with God is the first step to enjoying the peace of God in our hearts, and God desires that this peace fill our lives. To many, this is a foreign concept, but in Philippians 4:6–7 we read: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The worries of life, the stresses of circumstances, and the fear of the unknown rob many believers of the peace of God—the very peace that is able to guard (or garrison) our hearts and minds. In the world we live in, how is this possible? One way is by being mindful of what occupies our thoughts. This is why Paul goes on to say: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Anchor For Today:
We can enjoy the presence of the God of peace as we fill our minds and hearts with Him! Doing this is one way to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”