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The Gift of Peace





The hope of Christmas was meant to bring peace. 

Yet, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Matt. 2:3    

Imagine that!  

Herod realizes the prince of peace has been born, and he is troubled.  

It’s simple for us to look back and wonder what Herod was concerned about.  

It’s easy because we know Jesus’ kingdom was not earthly

and most, if not all, of us, have never been the king.  

When you’re the king, you worry about who wants your throne.  

This little bundle resting in a manger stole his peace.  

In fact, he was so bothered by the news that he stole peace from his subjects. 

 Unrest gushes down from Herod to those under him, and now they are troubled too.   

In Bethlehem, however, a baby slept peacefully.  

He was the fulfillment of peace the promise that brought peace.  

Herod had no peace but the baby in a manger, 

he not only knew peace, 

but he was also peace.  

At Christmas, it’s easy to leave behind our peace as Herod did.  

While not too many of us must protect our throne, other things steal our peace.  

It may be our finances and worry about HOW we will even buy gifts.  

If Christmas is about gifts; then we must have gifts, right?  

Or maybe we remember past Christmas’ that didn’t go so well, 

and Christmas must be perfect right?  

Perhaps you think of those who will be missing from your Christmas celebration; 

after all, it’s not Christmas if a family member is missing.  

All these things and more can steal our peace, 

and just like Herod unrest gushes in torrents on to those around us. 

Often, the things that we allow to wisp away our peace 

are things that may have little significance when we look back.  

This Christmas let’s take some time and open the gift of peace.  

Let’s remember that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus.  

If we make it about anything else, 

we will end up as troubled as Herod and we will end up making those around us

 as bothered as we are.  

If you have no peace, why not take a few minutes and get to know the Prince of Peace.  

Jesus never promised outward peace,  

but He is the only one who can bring peace to our troubled souls. 

That is a peace that goes beyond what we can comprehend. 

When we know him, making Christmas a celebration OF him is easy.

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