Merry Christmas GrowPoint! Fifty degrees in northern Ohio falls short of delivering Christmas vibes. I know some of you are quite content with what we have, and I’ll be sure to pray for you. Enjoying a white Christmas will have to stay in my dreams this year.
The theme of Peace was inspired by the angelic song on the night of Jesus’ birth, and Luke 2:8-15 tells the story:
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has beenborn today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
What a divine moment for these common shepherds! Their day started like any other day; meandering through the countryside looking for patches of grass and corralling the rambunctious strays. Their night started like any other night, but it would end like nothing they could have ever anticipated. In an instant, their surroundings were lit up by an angel. The radiance of the Lord’s glory caused the night to become day. Understandably, the shepherds were paralyzed with terror. After putting them at ease the angel shared with them the news of Jesus’ birth. He also gave them a quick list of clues if they wanted to go find the new-born Savior.
I picture the shepherds looking at one another for comfort and confirmation that they were all witnessing the same thing. The loaded expression on their faces said, “This is wild. This is divine. Are you seeing this? This is crazy. Are you hearing this? Are the sheep ok?” Still trying to make sense of the moment, the skies were immediately filled with more angels! These warrior angels were praising God:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
This declaration intensified the shepherds’ senses. Faced with an announcement of cosmic proportions, their response was simple yet profound: “Let’s go. Let’s see.” This, from my perspective, marks the pinnacle of their story—a moment encapsulating how God envisions humanity responding to the sending of His Son. “Let’s go. Let’s see” speaks the language of faith. It’s the instant when, I believe, the shepherds transitioned from witnesses to believers, leaving their flock behind as they sprinted toward Bethlehem in search of Jesus.
Now, a question arises: Who are those “with whom God is pleased?” This question holds weight, for peace is promised to those who find favor with God. The answer lies distinctly in Hebrews 11:6:
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
Our faith is a source of delight to God, and for those earnestly seeking Him, there awaits a divine reward. It is within this connection that genuine peace finds its home—the not-so-secret sauce that transforms seekers into recipients. Yes, peace belongs to the pursuers! As we step into this Christmas season and every day that follows, let’s actively pursue Jesus. Embrace the pursuit with confidence, knowing that God’s peace will gracefully envelop and safeguard you. May the journey of seeking Him be a path illuminated with the comforting radiance of His peace.