Toongabbie Anglican Church Blog

Weekly Blurb

Peace on earth

Sunday 15 December, 2002 · Posted by Philip Bassett

When the angels appeared to the Bethlehem shepherds they sang,

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

Our world is a bit short on peace at the moment so the reminder of the angels' message of peace on earth is very timely. And perhaps for a time this Christmas people can stop fighting, bombing, shelling each other and take stock of where all the violence is leading our world.

But to limit the Christmas message of peace to just the immediate cessation of hostilities, as wonderful as that would be, is to miss the full benefit of the peace that the angels were proclaiming. This peace is predominantly the peace between God and man that is ushered in by the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.

Epictetus, a 1^st century Roman philosopher said, "The emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, but he cannot give peace from passion, grief and envy. He cannot give peace of heart, for which man yearns more than even for outward peace."

Through the coming of Christ true peace will come on earth. As the rebellious heart is reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ, there is also peace between that heart and other fellow humans.

This peace will not come about by treaties between nations, or victories over terrorists, or United Nations resolutions. This peace comes only through Jesus, the Saviour, whose birth we commemorate in the weeks ahead.

Let His peace rule in your heart this Christmas so that where you are, at least, our troubled world may know something of His peace.

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