Luke 2 That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord has been born tonight in Bethlehem, in the city of David! Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors. The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

Two-Thousand years ago a proclamation from a heavenly choir was heard echoing across an open field. It was a declaration that would be repeated in the great cities of the world, in every town and village, to every man, woman and child. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth” – that peace is available to all mankind. Sadly too few have taken advantage of what that peace brings. In the last 300 years some 286 wars have ravaged Europe alone. Peace appears to be a cheap commodity in our current world, yet the promise given was an eternal one for all who would receive it.

People look for peace in many different places, through an ever increasing variety of avenues, yet it sadly evades them. As we enter into this Christmas season, the hope for many is that they find the peace they are so desperately looking for. There is a longing for world peace, personal peace, family and relational peace, emotional peace, financial peace.

True peace however is not found in a changing set of circumstances. Lasting peace is not found in the abatement of war, even though that is vital. Peace is not just the absence of conflict, true lasting peace is found in a person; Jesus Christ. The announcement of peace 2000 years ago, was not the promise of a change of political government or of economic equality. It was the heralding of a man. The One who would be the “Prince of Peace” The One who through his suffering and death, brought us into a place of eternal peace with God himself.

2 Thessalonians 3 may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. This is a promise of a peace that will never fail, it’s a peace that covers every situation we may face, a peace that is only enjoyed and experienced by those who have a relationship with Jesus as their Lord of Peace.

Romans 5:1 explains how this is possible – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ May the peace we have been given be evident and shared with all this Christmas as together we celebrate the birth of our Saviour.