Peace Begins

The days are ticking away until the big day. Traffic is picking up. Lists are getting longer. Cookies are baking non stop. Christmas traditions are in full effect. In the midst of the busiest time of the year, it’s getting harder and harder to find peace and quiet. Is that you during this season?

In 1955, Jill Jackson-Miller had one of the hardest years of her life. But after experiencing what she called “the life-saving joy of God's peace and unconditional love” she penned the words to Let There Be Peace on Earth. And as she opened the song, she wrote let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let There Be Peace on Earth. The peace that was meant to be (Let There Be Peace on Earth). In one of the hardest years, God’s peace shone through the darkness. It turned one life completely around to find the good in the world. To find the peace of God that was meant to be. And these lyrics have traveled through the decades to bring peace to many in times of trouble. Especially around the Christmas season. It just feels like a natural part of the season as we approach the celebration of Jesus’ birth. The sharing of glad tidings, peace on earth, and good will toward men. The birth of Jesus is the reason we can have that peace today. It’s that very peace the apostle Paul experienced that changed the direction of his life. It became his mission to share all that he experienced with everyone he encountered. And when Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he sought out to write his most comprehensive writing of the gospel message. Paul writes in chapter 5 that 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 this grace in which we now stand (Romans 5:1-2 NIV).

It’s through our faith in Jesus Christ that we can experience the peace He left the world. The same peace Paul felt. The same peace that Jill experienced. And it’s a peace that’s meant to be shared with each other during this season and beyond. It’s a peace that surpasses all understanding. When we are filled with the everlasting peace of Jesus we find that we can fill the air with joyful noise. Ring the bells and raise your voice. To say let there be peace on earth. Lift your light and let it shine. Let it shine, shine, shine. Let every voice be heard. Let there be peace on earth (Voctave, This is My Wish/Let There Be Peace on Earth).

Carry the peace of Jesus with you for the remainder of this season and into the new year. Share His peace with all those you encounter. Fill the air with a joyful noise this week. Let peace of God guide you today.

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