Forty days of Peace: Day 36

Monday, October 5, 2020

Sharing the good news brings God’s peace

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, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:13-14

Please read Luke 2:4-18

As we bring this peace journey to a close over the next five days, we will for the final time answer the question “What brings God’s peace?” The answer this time is: sharing the good news brings God’s peace. In other words, we, God’s people, bring peace to those who have not yet heard the gospel. Isn’t it likely that if we have any good news, such as a job promotion, an engagement announcement, or a baby’s birth, we would willingly share it? Why then are we so hesitant to share the greatest “good news” with those who are truly dying to hear it? This is a great question for each of us to ponder. Let’s pray for boldness and desire to be God’s messengers of peace.

In our passage today, commonly known as the Christmas story, the One who is called the Prince of Peace, came into the chaos of the sinful world to rescue us. On that glorious night, angels proclaim to the shepherds “peace on earth!” Peace where there was no peace. Not only did the angels sing of this good news, the shepherds themselves, after they saw Mary, Joseph, and the newborn King, made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them (v.17-18). In a sense, these uneducated, outcast shepherds were the first missionaries concerning the good news of Jesus! May this thought encourage us to be bold in our faith and not worry about the perfect words to say in sharing our faith, or even the response of the recipient. Those that heard the shepherds “wondered” at their news; maybe later they “received” it as truth. Our part is the sharing. God will take care of the rest in his time and way.

Is there someone in your life that does not know Jesus? Write his or her name down in your journal or on a notecard and first commit to pray for them all week. Then, ask the Lord to give you the opportunity and boldness to speak. That opportunity may be immediate or not so don't be anxious. His timing is perfect and always better than ours. I sometimes like to picture myself as just a vessel that the Lord is using to deliver the message when and where He chooses. It takes the “me” out of the picture and is somewhat relieving to know it’s the “Him” that is speaking. It also allows me to remember He is responsible for the results - not me. Remember, scripture calls the good news “the gospel of peace.” Is it time for us to take a chance and share that peace that seems so lacking in the world right now?

For further reading: Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 62:1; Ephesians 2:17-18; Ephesians 6:19-20

Dearest Heavenly Father,

In a world that seems to be in such a mess at this moment, we claim You provide the peace needed. Lord, as hard as it is to say, we know that situations can turn ugly; there is evil and hardship in this world. However, the Good News here is You ! With You in our lives we will be okay even if the situation is not. Please Lord, speak to us this week in terms of who we need to pray for and share You with. Give us the boldness, the words, the situation to do so. In a world where peace is desperately sought after in so many unyielding ways, make us Your messengers of the truth. In Your timing, in Your way we pray, Amen.