Advent: Peace

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace. (Micah 5:4–5)

The prophet Micah spoke of a great shepherd who would come to stop the oppression of his people. Isaiah prophesied of a child who would come to end bloody battles and rule in peace. The angels proclaimed peace and goodwill at the birth of the Messiah.  

But too often we do not feel at peace. Anxiety, unrest, and turmoil abound inside us, in our relationships, and in our world. We long for peace in our hearts, with others, and for our neighbors all over the globe.

Peace in our hearts begins with the birth of Christ in the manger. God used the plan of a humble birth to usher in his perfect plan of peace “to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven” (Colossians 1:20). But his plan for peace didn’t end in a manger—it culminated on a cross.

You see, God was reconciling the world to himself by allowing that little baby to grow and then die on a cross for our sins.

God knew our greatest need for peace was with him, for our sins make us his enemies. Christ was born in order to reconcile us to God, “making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20). He made peace between us and God, and now we can have peace with others by offering them the same forgiveness we have received.

As we light this candle, let it remind us to tell others that true peace is available by trusting in the Prince of Peace to take away their sins. Plead with them to be reconciled to God. And then watch and wait as one by one, God’s peace begins to reign in the hearts and lives of those around us.