God With Us Brings Peace

Not much peace for continually working shepherds

Shepherds near Bethlehem living with their sheep in the fields

Shepherds lived in the fields with their sheep in the warmer weather, providing protection from theft or attack and direction.

The shepherds would almost certainly always smell like sheep

The shepherds probably would not have been able to readily attend worship services and festivals, they were considered unclean, needing ritual purification over time.

Though many of their patriarchs were shepherds, in their day, they weren’t as respected.

The last thing the shepherds would have expected was to be included in any divine revelation or favor.

Maybe they were expecting judgment instead.

Sometimes, we don’t feel worthy of God’s favor.

Today as we continue our Advent journey toward Christmas, we are focusing on and celebrating peace, the peace that has been brought into our word by Immanuel, God with Us. My hope is that today each of us will experience the consolation of Christ’s peace deep within our souls.

The Christmas season is typically though of as a season of joy, but it can be a painful season for many.

What battles are you facing today?

How can we find peace when others haven’t treated us with dignity?

Or maybe, you were the one who caused the harm.

Angels appeared to shepherds

It was improbable and outrageous

Imagine watching the sheep in the dark of night, when the sky opens up with a bright light, attended by many angels, and a whole new star in the sky. That would startle anyone.

The angels appeared to the shepherds first after Mary, Joseph, and Zechariah, not to political or religious leaders

One could imagine them asking “Why would angels tell US about this? Who would believe us if we told them?”

It is a good and important statement that the angels started with “Do not be afraid.”

This might provide assurance that holy God was not there to condemn them.

They might have felt humbled in the presence of God and “fall on their faces” like other Biblical persons.

The angels brought to the shepherds their good news of the birth of the “Savior, who is the Messiah [or Christ], the Lord.”

The angels also gave the shepherds so they could find the child

One of the best ways to assuage doubt is to provide evidence that can be tested

Some of the signs align with the prophecies concerning the Messiah

But, the more obvious signs of cloth wrappings and a manger (a stall) were then included.

Then, all the hosts of heaven praised God who sends the Savior, the Messiah, to earth to bring peace to all God favors.

Imagine the shepherds asking themselves if they were favored by God.

God sent the angels to tell them the good news – that is favor, not everyone knew

Throughout the Psalms we read of God favors the righteous

God’s favor lasts for a lifetime; weeping lasts for a time, but joy comes in the morning.

God will establish the ways (of peace) of those who seek the favor of the Lord

Proverbs 3:3-4 – Those who act in love and faithfulness to God and others find God’s favor.

Romans 9:18 – God shows favor to whomever God chooses

God especially favors humble outcasts

Jesus began his ministry by telling all who God favors, the poor, the outcasts, and the humble, who seek after God and who are persecuted for their trust in God, his presence, and his way of redemption.

Jesus frequently used shepherds as examples of good things and called himself the good shepherd.

Like a humble shepherd Jesus Christ fed his disciples with the Scriptures and protected them with divine power.

In humility, he was rejected, suffered, and died, so that he would be raised again to redeem everyone from sin and fill them with the peace of God.

Phil. 4:6-7 – Paul reminds the Philippians that God gives peace beyond understanding to all of those who seek after God in prayer to guard their hearts and minds against perpetrating more sin and evil upon others.

God’s peace is about safety, completeness, and wholeness.

The Hebrew word used in that blessing and throughout the Old Testament is shalom, and it conveys rich, powerful meaning. So much more than just the absence of fighting, shalom reflects safety, completeness, and wholeness.

This is the type of peace brought by God with Us. Jesus is the Prince of Shalom

It’s in humility, as with Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, the startled shepherds, accepted the gifts of hope, love, joy and peace that Jesus brings to the world.

God brings good news to those he favors

When we are reminded of our inability to save ourselves, to heal our own brokenness, to break the power of addiction, and to redeem ourselves from sin and evil, we seek out the one who does.

When we come to God through prayer, He changes us.

God’s peace is able to bring a powerful transformation in our spirits.

God’s presence and peace can pierce even dark and painful circumstances of our lives, any wound, anguish, or addiction that plagues us.

This season, look for God, the Prince of Peace, who is with you, restoring you to wholeness and the place of safety.

God also brings peace between people because we are all drawn together and unified in God through Jesus Christ.

Since Jesus came as God with us, the grace and peace of God have been poured out to overflowing upon the earth through the people of peace.

We may not be able to end the personal, emotional, cultural, or physical battles we are fighting this holiday season, but even in those darkest of places, we can lean into the God who is with us.

May He be your peace today, guarding your soul with peace, filling you with the Spirit of wholeness, and ruling as the Prince of Peace.

When Jesus Christ returns, He will bring healing and restore the fullness of God’s kingdom of Peace.

This is the good news that causes great joy for all people, and why the angels sing Glory to God in the highest!