The Gift ... Peace?

Life during Christmas today: commercialism … stress … tension … shopping … family … traveling … year-end reports … year-end goals … children’s activities … church programs … can you identify? We get saturated in the bombardment of emotional and physical turmoil. If we are lucky, we spend maybe an hour or two during the busy Christmas season really reflecting on God’s gift to humanity.

We have all heard the story of Jesus as the perfect gift from God that we celebrate on Christmas day. But what does that really mean? What does “on earth peace to men” (Luke 2:13) really mean? Will all the wars stop? Will everyone get along without strife? Will all the families unite in harmony? These questions make us pause to probe what “peace on earth” through the gift of Jesus really means.

Jesus, the Son of God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born by the virgin Mary (Luke 2:34-35). He was fully God and fully man as he grew up increasing in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52). He excelled as a teacher training twelve disciples (Mark 3:14-19). He preached magnificent sermons (Matthew 5 –7). He healed the sick (Luke 7:21), conquered death (Luke 7:11-15), controlled nature (Mark 6:45-51), drove out demons (Matthew 8:16), fed thousands (Matthew 14:15-21; 15:32-38), lectured the synagogue elite (Matthew 12:24-50), resisted temptation (Luke 4:1-13) and performed many signs and wonders (John 21:25). He gave up His life through a torturous and brutal death being nailed to a cross (John 19:30). Death did not stop Him; He rose from the dead (Romans 6:9-10) and now sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3). So, where is the “peace on earth” now?

During the Passover supper, after Judas left to betray Him as recorded in John 16:7, Jesus tells the disciples that is to their advantage that He should go away. The result is the introduction of the Holy Spirit administration on the earth. Jesus, who is called Immanuel translated as “God with us,” (Matthew 1:23) came and went. So, does “God with us” leave also? Definitely not! Jesus had to leave to fulfill the promise of sending the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:29) who became, “God with us.” The Holy Spirit immerses us with His power (Acts 1:8). In the teachings at the Passover supper, Jesus explains that His going to the Father ushers in our ability to do greater works than He could perform (John 14:12). Jesus was describing the imputation of the Holy Spirit into everyone who believes. Do the math. When Jesus was on the earth constrained in a finite body His influence was limited. With the Holy Spirit sent to work in every believer’s life the sphere of influence multiplies.

Where is “peace on earth?” It starts with us. Jesus came, died, resurrected, and sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit resides in our lives, making us an extension of “God with us.” The Father’s gift to humanity started with Jesus who provided reconciliation and salvation. The gift continues with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit across all humanity. We are part of God’s distribution of the endless gift.

What does that mean to us? Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Look at what that might look like this Christmas season:

Love:

The command Jesus gave us was to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Take the neighbor who may have crossed you a plate of cookies.

Joy:

Approach tomorrow with a smile because you have the hope of eternal life with Jesus (Proverbs 15:13). Share your hope of eternal life with someone (Romans 8).

Peace:

Blessed are the peacemakers … (Matthew 5:9). “When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7). Live a life that humbly expresses acceptance of those who are different, those in a different financial class, those trapped in sin, and those with different political views. Reach out to them with helping hands rather than fists of prejudice.

Patience:

Peter exhorts us to respond to our masters with patience and endurance (1 Peter 2:18-20). When the pressures of work become a burden and the boss’ expectations seem unreasonable, show patience, and perform well.

Kindness:

Jesus told us that if someone asks for our shirt to give him our coat also (Matthew 5:40). Double your giving, both time and money.

Goodness:

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:34-40). Serve food to some homeless people. Volunteer at a hospital. Send money to an international organization that provides clean water, medicine, and food to hurting people around the world.

Faithfulness:

Joshua 24:15 “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Teach your family to know how the Lord wants us to follow Him and love each other.

Gentleness:

“Blessed are the gentle…” (Matthew 5:5). “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). When stresses are high and things challenge your plans, handle it gently without harsh words.

Self-control:

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31). Walk away from a tense situation. Give yourself time to think through a response or an action. Suppress angry emotional reactions. Let a cooler head prevail.

“Peace on earth?” It is us. We are all a piece of the “peace on earth.” Jesus was born as the Messiah who ushered in the dispensation period of the Holy Spirit which we now live in. We are God’s children filled with the Holy Spirit and possess the attributes of His fruit. Our obligation and responsibility are to administer this “peace on earth.” Our acts of encouragement, our provision to someone in need, or our resistance to anger perpetuate God’s “peace on earth.” This Christmas season, show people “the gift” as the ambassadors of the fruit of the Holy Spirit resulting in “peace on earth.”