“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”–John 14:26–27

The message of the angels that first Christmas night of “peace on earth” is a promise that has not yet been fulfilled. We live in a world filled with hatred, violence, conflict, and war. Yet God’s promise of peace, like all of His promises is certain. And while we who know Him can have peace even in a troubled world, one day Jesus will rule a perfectly peaceful world.

In a Christmas sermon titled “The Child in the Manger” T. DeWitt Talmage said, “Have you ever thought how strangely this song of peace must have sounded to the Roman Empire? Why, that Roman Empire gloried in its arms, and boasted of the number of men it had slain, and with triumph looked at conquered provinces. Their highest honors had been bestowed upon Fabius and Scipio and Caesar. It was men of blood and carnage that they honored. With what contempt they must have looked upon a kingdom the chief principle of which was to be goodwill to men, and upon the unarmed, penniless Christ, who, in Nazarene garb, was about to start out for the conquest of the nations.”

We do not have to wait for some future date to enjoy God’s peace. Paul wrote, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15). Each day we can make the choice to live in peace, no matter what the world around us is experiencing.(Daily in the Word)

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying , Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13-14

Singing of some sort is popular around the world. I don’t know of any culture where there is no singing. People compose and sing songs for several reasons, some of which seem silly, but when it comes to praising God singing is serious. It is an important part of worship and should not be neglected. Perhaps more than any other time of the year we express ourselves most freely in song during the Christmas season. While some of the songs are lighthearted others are of great importance because they instruct and inspire. They serve to remind us of God’s greatness and our blessings.

The daily devotional “Turning Point” said:”Groups of carolers may appear at your door, or you may hear a Salvation Army brass ensemble playing carols on a street corner. And you will certainly hear carols in your church—an indispensable part of the Christmas season.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”Galatians 4:4–6

There are dozens of Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, many of them relating to the birth of Jesus Christ. From the first promise of a Saviour given to Adam and Eve and recorded in Genesis 3:15, there was an eager expectation for the coming of the Lord. As time passed, first years, then centuries and then millennia, there were still faithful people waiting and watching for His coming. Just as with everything God does, it did not happen according to man’s schedule. It was only “when the fulness of time was come” that Jesus was born.

Just as one example, events were orchestrated that literally put the world in motion as the government in Rome declared a census which required people to return to their ancestral home town to be registered. That order from an occupying foreign power was probably a source of great frustration and annoyance to the people of Israel, but it was necessary to get Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem so that Jesus could be born there and prophecy be fulfilled. God is not bound by time as we are, and He is willing to wait and work behind the scenes to bring everything together in His perfect timing.

Understanding that God is working even when we do not see Him is essential to maintaining our faith through the hard times that come. He is able to use everything that happens for good, and to use even those who oppose us to bring about His purpose and plan.– Daily in the Word

For all that the Bible has to say about joy and rejoicing, there are a lot, far too many, sour saints. One has to wonder, “What in the world is wrong with us?”. Has God died? Are there no blessings to be found anywhere? Why then all the gloom?

J. R. Miller wrote: “There are those who take to gloom—as a bat to darkness, or as a vulture to carrion! They would rather nurse a misery—than cherish a joy. They always find the dark side of everything, if there is a dark side to be found. They appear to be conscientious grumblers, as if it were their duty to extract some essence of misery from every circumstance. The weather is either too cold or too hot; too wet or too dry. They never find anything to their taste. Nothing escapes their criticism. They find fault with the food on the table, with the bed in which they lie, with the railroad-train or steamboat on which they travel, with the government and its officials, with merchant and workman—in a word, with the world at large and in detail.

They are chronic grumblers. Instead of being content in the state in which they are—they have learned to be discontented, no matter how happy their lot! If they had been placed in the Garden of Eden—they would have discovered something with which to find fault! Their wretched habit empties life of all possible joy—and turns every cup to gall.”

You might not like it, but you know what he said is true. Just look around– better yet, look in the mirror! Do you really believe this is what God intended? Could He possibly be pleased with what He sees? Are you pleased by it? What are you going to do about it? If anyone on earth has a reason to rejoice, cause for contentment, and hope for happiness it is a born-again believer. Knowing all that Christ has promised and provided for us, we have no excuse for being sour. It should be said of every Christian, “ Whom having not seen , ye love ; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing , ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory“(1 Pet. 1:8)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth , give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled , neither let it be afraid .“–John 14:27

Peace is a sweet sounding word. The very mention of it conjures up mental images of a placid lake, lush green pastures, shade trees, and birds singing—things that relate to a relaxed state of mind. But, although we all want it, very few have the “peace that passeth all understanding” of which the Bible speaks (Phil. 4:7). Many even doubt that peace is possible. But in out text Jesus, the Prince of Peace, promises us that peace is possible.

The late Ray Stedman said, “I wonder how many Christians have really come to understand the great fact that peace is our inheritance. Peace is what Jesus has left us. It is basic and fundamental and cannot be taken away from us by any circumstance. That is what he means by “I give not as the world gives.”

How does the world give peace? If you were troubled, upset, and disturbed, and you went to a doctor who was not a Christian and asked him, “What can I do to gain peace,” what would he tell you? “Take a trip. Go to Hawaii. Get away from it all.” In other words, “Change your circumstances. Get to the place where nothing bothers you, where everything is peaceful around you. Then you can be at peace.”

But Jesus says, “I give peace right in the midst of trouble, right in the midst of distress and turmoil and heartache and pressure. I can impart peace to your heart right there, and not as the world gives.” Why? Because we can return to that basic relationship we have — “You in me, and I in you.” Out of that comes the guarantee that he is working out his purposes. He will bring us to the end of the trouble. He will still the storm and quiet the waves. We rest in the boat, content, knowing that “No water can swallow the ship, where lies the Master of ocean and earth and sky.” That is peace.

“Peace I leave with you. [Therefore],” the Lord adds, “let not your hearts be troubled.” That is addressed to you! It means you do not have to be upset and anxious, troubled and weary and worried. “Let not your hearts be troubled.” How? By returning to that place of rest.”

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”-Isa. 26:3