John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV)
One of my early school memories is of the Christmas choir concert. Our teacher was a stickler when it came to diction, and she made us repeat the words over and over. After several repetitions, one of the boys, who would rather have been playing hockey than staying after school to practice, obviously became bored. "Silent night, holy night," his clear voice rang out over the auditorium. But the words that came next earned him a large dose of our conductor's wrath. "All the earth got in a fight!"
The incident, the change of words, and the consequences they earned, have stayed in my mind far longer than I'd have liked. However, I can't help but think that the boy could be singing a self-evident truth if he were singing in a Christmas concert this year. There is strife in our world, stress in our jobs, discord and struggle in our homes.
Today, God's gift, Jesus, brings us cleansing from the sin that has separated human hearts from the love of God. Jesus came to earth to bring us peace — no, not the type of peace that means that there will never be another war, but peace with God. If we have accepted God's gift, we are reunited with our heavenly Father, and we can sing with true joy the words of the song, "Silent night… sleep in heavenly peace."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus. May we all accept Your gift and find true peace this Christmas. Amen.
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