In Luke 2:14, the angels appeared to shepherds and made this bold statement: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” That was an echoing of a prophecy Isaiah made many years back, proclaiming that there would be a time of God’s favor on all those who mourn.
Many see this proclamation from the angels as a declaration of peace with the world. It wasn’t so much about there being no more wars between nations – instead it was God declaring that He offered peace to His enemies. The time of His vengeance was put aside so there could be peace.
That applies to us in three ways – that promise of peace in Christmas.
It’s not really for us.
The proclamation of peace was once for us. We were once enemies of God. But if we have received the work of Jesus and His salvation for us, we’re no longer the enemies of God. We’re now part of His family. God offers His children a different type of peace – internal peace. But this peace is bigger than just the ability to be calm when things are hectic. It’s literally like the bullets have stopped flying. God is no longer pouring out His wrath on those who deserve it like He did so well in the Old Testament.
We have to keep that peace.
Guess what: Since we are now part of His family and part of His army, that means we have declared peace with the enemies of God too. It would be subordination to fire bullets – figurative or verbal – at anyone God has made peace with.
It doesn’t matter if they’re mean or nasty to us. It doesn’t matter if they act contrarily to the way we think they should. It doesn’t even matter if they’re pushing ideas contrary to God. We are to be agents of peace.
It’s not our job to picket, boycott, or even criticize those to whom God has declared His peace.
We get to be heralds of peace.
The exciting thing is that we get to tell people about God’s peace. We get to share that good news – to be the ambassadors in the once-enemy territory. We get to offer people visas and even permanent citizenship in God’s nation. We aren’t trying to change the way they are. We aren’t trying to change their behavior. We aren’t even trying to impose God’s laws on them. We’re trying to get them to change their citizenship so they can experience peace.
The peace is not forever. It’s a time of peace where God is letting people make peace with Him.
That’s the only agenda that matters. God’s agenda of peace. Let’s make sure that’s our primary objective too.