Singing the Greatest Story of Peace to All Nations (Luke 2:8-14). In singing Christmas to all nations, by declaring the glory of God to all of them, by summoning them to join us in praising God, and by warning them of the coming judgement if they refuse to repent from their sins and be forgiven, our real ambition should be to preach Christ where he had not been known. And for that matter, there are still people group in the world that are still unreached with the gospel and there are still many around us in this city who still don’t know Jesus or have a vague notion of his person.
Christmas is truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving to others the true love we received from God through Christ. Christmas time is a time we could sing the melodies of true peace as the angels sang:“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).
It is very difficult to talk about peace now in the world. We live in a hostile world. In fact peace is not just absence of war or terror. Political upheavals do not bring peace, the collapsing world’s economy does not bring peace, and the uncertainties of the world of tomorrow are troublesome and making all of us insane. Governments’ politics have never been so disconnected from people. The societies’ fundamental values are eroding and disappearing in a speed of light; the increasing number of people using antidepressants and drugs just in North America alone for depression, burnout, and domestic problems, lack of self-esteem and recognition, excessive stimulation in an ever changing technological world is alarming. Something is not right, we say we are developing, emancipating yet humans have never been less humans in their attitude and behaviour. Child abuse and exploitation, love for animals replacing love for children and humans, the laws of our countries serving the criminals more than the victims, the lack of social justice and equality, the rich becoming richer and the poor poorer, the notion of right and wrong confused, and on it goes. Jesus’ time was no better, yet the angels sang “Peace on Earth”.
This song is not a wishful thinking but rather an affirmation of what happen when God decide to rend the heaven and come down. Many times in the past when God came down he brought judgement. But according to the angels this time God is bringing peace. Christmas time is time we could sing the greatest story of peace to all peoples. By showing them that God send his Son so that by faith we will have
I. Peace With God. The angels were the first ones to announce the good news of the long-awaited Messiah’s birth. Jesus came into the world to die on the cross to reconcile us with God our Creator; we are in peace with him. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into the grace in which we now stand (Rom 5:1-2). In order to have peace with God we must repent from our sins and
Be justified by God through Faith in His Son. True peace and happiness begins when we realise we need to restore our broken relationship with God. Jesus was born to die on the cross for our sins so that we will be right with God. Once we restore our legal standing before God, and our criminal record erased, we can now live a peaceful life, with God and with the world. There is no gain acquiring the world of happiness if we are not in peace with God (Rom 8:1-2).
Be reconciled with God through Him. Those on whom God’s grace rest are those who have been reconciled to him. They are those who have now legally become the children of adoption ( John 1:10-12). The birth of Christ and his ultimate death is All from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ. God made peace with us by sending his Son to earth. The angels were right! Jesus Christ is the peace Child through whom God will reconcile himself with the world. God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them (2 Cor 5:18-6:2). God send his Son so that by faith we will have peace with Him but also
Peace with Mankind. Through Christ we learn to make peace with those who offend us. Peace is a gift from Christ.
Through Christ we learn to become peacemakers. God not only has reconciled himself with us, he also gave us the ministry of reconciliation to All Nations. We have now become ambassadors of God to announce peace just like the angels did. The church is called to be a caring and sharing community of God’s peace. The joy of the children of God is testifying to a peace towards others, even those whom we judge to be undeserving of our love.
Through Christ we learn to enjoy inner peace. In our world of upheavals, revolutions, wars and insecurities, we can choose to make ours the peace only our Lord can provide. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6-7).
How then do we sing the Christmas melodies as pacemakers?
One of our goals in singing Christmas to all nations this season all the way through 2012, is to allow ourselves as God’s children to be trained as peacemakers or peace singers who will be able to proclaim or to sing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bring people to taste the divine peace. How do we do that? Invite the Holy Spirit to use us in becoming peacemakers
- The Holy Spirit will teach us how to live a balance life that is glorifying to God.
- The Holy Spirit will help us know the power of the gospel on everyday basis
- The Holy Spirit will help us love and care for the Church and for one another.
- The Holy Spirit will have us teach and mature in the Word of God. We have no peace when there is no stability in our life. Our faith is reinforced and stabilized when we are rooted in the Word of God.
- The Holy Spirit will help us continue in our effort to add more souls from every nation to the Church. We want God to fill us with wisdom and the knowledge of his will so we are fit for the gospel to take root in us and to produce lasting fruits.
Christmas is the season of peace. The Old Testament tells the story of how God set the stage to introduce the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus came to break the cycle of sin by making peace for us with God “through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). Instead of blaming us for all the trouble we cause, He bore the blame for all of us. He is now recruiting followers who, having received His forgiveness, want others to receive it as well.
When we accept forgiveness from God, we lose our desire to withhold it from others. And when we live in peace with God, we are eager to make peace with others. We can both give and receive the gift of peace this Christmas.
May the gifts of Joy, Peace and the Saviours’ Love abound toward you this season, as you celebrate His birth. And May the peace and joy from God be yours through the year to come and may we Sing the Greatest Story of Peace to All Nations and Peoples.
