Day 13 — Christmas Eve!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!
Luke 2:14
Silent Night
Holy Night
All is calm
All is bright
Round yon virgin
Mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
It’s Christmas Eve, and many of you—like me—probably can’t think of a more beautiful or appropriate song to capture the gentle mood of this evening. There’s just something about Christmas Eve. A candle-light service. The dark seems a little darker, the cold a little colder. The anticipation is boiling over, but the night still has a peace about it. It’s the calm before the storm. Christmas Day is full of celebration and “Joy to the World!” But Christmas Eve is for silent nights—holy nights that sweep us up in heavenly peace.
The world longs for peace. “Contestant #1: What’s your greatest wish?” “Peace on earth.” Even if only in word, the world knows that peace is one of our greatest needs. But how do we get this peace, and who actually receives it?
The answer is right there in the angels’ announcement: we get peace by giving glory to God in the highest, and that peace comes not to everyone, but to those with whom God is pleased. So often the world claims the half of God’s promise that suits them, but forgets about the condition. Everyone wants “on earth peace”, but not everyone wants “among those with whom he is pleased.” Everyone wants what Jesus gives, but not everyone wants Jesus.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and he told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27). Peace is a person and he gives himself to us freely. This Christmas Eve let’s enjoy peace as it’s given in Christ — peace that comes from knowing God is pleased with those who put their faith in him.
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Catch up Days 1-12 of our Christmas Devotional here.