Peace

Again this year, as we light the Advent candles in many different churches, we think about the Hope, Peace, Joy, Love that this season of Christmas brings. I got to think about the state of the world, including where we live, and realise there appears to be very little peace. There seems to be conflict in many places around the world; even in our own political system there is division on views and opinions with little chance of agreement and peace. Then I realised, and thinking about it a little more deeply, that peace isn’t just the absence of conflict and noise, it is a far deeper gift.

We read in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians in chapter five that peace is a Fruit of the Spirit and is something, as Christians, we need to have and to show. You see, peace is the result of having the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is more than just being still, quiet or passive, it is to actively have a deep sense of peace in our lives as we fully put our trust in God. This peace should show itself in the way we conduct our lives on a daily basis. Is it easy for you to get cross or angry? Do you get tensed up and stressed?

In the Old Testament Book of Numbers we read in chapter six verses 24-26, “The Priestly Blessing”, given by God to Moses to tell the priests how to bless the people, a blessing we often use in our services today. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face towards you and give you …… PEACE.”

If we see others in the light of this blessing I know that one day peace will reign. As the Christmas story tells us in Luke chapter 2, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to all men …..”.

This Christmas may each one of us experience that deep peace in our hearts and lives.