Read:
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Think:
During the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations, it's easy to get lost in the quest for the perfect holiday experience. Family conflicts, the pressure to craft perfectly iced cookies, and the strain of expensive presents often lead us to yearn for the peaceful scenes pictured in Christmas cards.
In 1914, during the full throes of World War I, British machine gunner Bruce Bairnsfather found himself entrenched in the brutal reality of war. He detailed the harshness of spending Christmas Eve in the bitter cold and mud of Belgium after a year of intense fighting against the Germans. His days and nights were consumed by fear, deprivation, and the dreary monotony of a soldier's existence far from home.
During this lonely time, something extraordinary happened. Around 10 p.m. on a freezing Christmas Eve, Bairnsfather heard Christmas carols sung by German soldiers across the field. Astonishingly, British soldiers joined in, prompting a surprising invitation from the enemy to meet halfway in No Man's Land.
What followed defied the conventions of warfare. Enemies emerged cautiously from their trenches, converging in the barren space between them. Instead of bullets and hostility, there were handshakes, camaraderie, and an impromptu holiday gathering under the starlit sky for one special night to celebrate a human that wasn’t human, to celebrate the One who came to bring peace.
This miraculous truce wasn’t confined to one battlefield but spread across the Western Front, offering a fleeting reprieve from the horrors of war. This extraordinary event, emerging from the darkness and despair of war, is the Christmas story in its purest form—a tale of hope.
Just as the birth of Jesus heralded peace and freedom from sin through our surrender, his sacrifice on the cross symbolized the ultimate price for peace (Colossians 1:20). As we navigate our own conflicts and anxieties this season, it's important to remember that God promises to be our peace, regardless of our circumstances. His presence brings a profound calm in the midst of life's storms, inviting us to find solace and rest in his unwavering presence and peace.
Apply:
Surrender your conflicts and anxieties to God through prayer. Release your burdens to God, name them, write them down and give them to him.
Actively pursue peace in relationships, following the biblical principles outlined in Romans 12:18 and Ephesians 4:2-3.
Pray:
Lord, thank you for being our peace, no matter what battles or storms we face. Help us to bring peace wherever we go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.