The God Who Gives Peace.

Luke 2:8-15

Micah 5:2–5 “2 Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times. 3 Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of the ruler’s brothers will return to the people of Israel. 4 He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. 5 He will be their peace. When Assyria invades our land, when it marches against our fortresses, we will raise against it seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men.”

Isaiah 9:6 “6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Lexham Theological Wordbook Peace

Peace denotes the wholeness, soundness, and well-being that characterizes God and that God created in the world. As peace was broken due to human sin, such well-being constitutes the hope for ultimate restoration by God.

Peace is God’s gift of restoration generously given through Christ.

Ephesians 2:13–15 “13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.”

Ephesians 2:17 “17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.”

Peace comes when we care about the right things, rooted in the words from God.

this is what we see in the christmas narrative in a man named simeon..

Luke 2:25-35

Peace is formed in our perspective; in our looking and caring.

…like Simeon

Simeon teaches a vital lesson about being men of passion in a time of mediocrity.

Simeon is mentioned only briefly in Luke 2. We don’t know much about him—his life span, his hobbies and passions, his wife, or his family.

However, God knew Simeon, and as far as the attention of heaven is concerned, this is all that mattered.

Simeon shows us:

Peace flows freely when we give our attention to the right things.

Peace flows freely when our perspective is healthy.

Matthew 6:19-25a

The “good eye” (aiyin tovah) and “evil eye” (ophthalmos ponēros) were idiomatic expressions signifying generosity and envy, respectively.

Matthew 6:22-23 contains a Jewish idiom that was popular in ancient Judaism but is often misunderstood by modern readers1. The “good eye” (aiyin tovah) and “evil eye” (ophthalmos ponēros) were idiomatic expressions signifying generosity and envy, respectively12. When understood in its cultural context, Jesus was essentially exhorting his followers to cultivate an open-handed attitude toward others and not let money rule over them, emphasizing that caring for those around us is central to one’s character3.

The verses reference distractions from full devotion to God, particularly wealth and anxiety4. This connects to Jesus’s broader point about the impossibility of serving two masters, with “Mammon” (money) representing something people are prone to trust instead of God.

despise that God wants us to give…because we are devoted to money.

Love God and you’ll hate greed.

One of the most important things we can learn in our attention economy is that God does not pay the same attention to what we do. Much of what is loved by the world is overlooked by God, and much of what is loved by God is overlooked by the world.

But God never overlooks the hungry…

Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

Simeon devoted (his heart, attention, energy) to looking for Messiah.

Devotion looks like loving something/someone with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Peace is lost when we give attention to the wrong things.

we long for peace, but many feel like life is scattered, frantic, controlled chaos, pulled to pieces..

activity, that continually scatters your attention, will open the door to anxiety.

what does your morning usually look like?

Nueroscience tells us the importance of our attention…

Neuroscience is very clear on this: what you give your attention to directly shapes your anxiety levels. Attention is not passive; it actively trains your brain’s threat system.

1. Attention Activates the Brain’s Fear Center (Amygdala)

The amygdala is the brain’s threat detector. It scans constantly for danger.

• When your attention locks onto:

• Financial fear

• News cycles

• Social comparison

• Worst-case scenarios

your amygdala becomes hyperactive, releasing:

• Cortisol (stress hormone)

• Adrenaline (fight-or-flight)

Result:

• Elevated heart rate

• Shallow breathing

• Racing thoughts

• Chronic anxiety

Key neuroscience principle: “Neurons that fire together wire together.”

The more you focus on threat, the stronger your brain becomes at producing anxiety.

⸻

2. Anxious Attention Creates a Feedback Loop

This is called the anxiety-attention loop:

1. You notice a potential threat

2. You focus on it intensely

3. Anxiety rises

4. Your brain scans for more proof of danger

5. Anxiety increases again

Soon, your brain becomes:

• Biased toward danger

• Hyper-vigilant

• Easily overwhelmed

This explains why two people can face the same situation:

• One remains calm

• The other spirals into panic

The difference is not the event—it’s trained attention.

3. What You Attend to Becomes What Feels True

The brain has a system called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) which filters reality based on focus… If your attention is on:

• Threat → You perceive danger everywhere

• Lack → You feel scarcity everywhere

• Conflict → You feel unsafe everywhere

Even when safety is objectively present.

This is why Jesus says: “Do not worry… your Father knows what you need.” (Matthew 6)

Because attention misdirected creates a false reality of constant danger.

Long-term anxiety-focused attention leads to:

Reduced emotional regulation

Sleep problems

Increased inflammation

Higher risk of depression

Memory impairment

Your brain becomes excellent at fear rehearsal.

If Your Attention Is On threat —> Your Brain Produces anxiety…

Scarcity —> Fear

Comparison —> Insecurity

News overload —>Hypervigilance

God’s promises —>Calm

Gratitude —> Stability

Prayer —> Regulation

Truth —> Peace

Attention is the steering wheel of the nervous system.

This Explains Why Greed Also Increases Anxiety… Greed and anxiety share the same neurological loop:

• Greed → constant attention to “not enough”

• Anxiety → constant attention to “not safe enough”

Both train the brain in perpetual threat mode.

Anxiety is not just what happens to you — it is what your attention trains your brain to expect.

This is why Jesus tells us to LOOK AT THE BIRDS & FLOWERS

Matthew 6 is worth reading this week...multiple times. God has taught me so much about this chapter; because I have had a real hard time not growing anxious around financial things.

I often try to get ahold of peace through control or escape. That is our response to pain too. Money is gives us allusions of both control and escape — making greed a bad substitute and source for peace

The majority of people missed the birth of Jesus. God snuck into our world almost unnoticed. But there were a few people who were let in on the secret of His coming. A few people who beheld the miracle in their midst while the world moved slowly on. Simeon was one of them.

The priests dedicating Jesus didn’t notice the Messiah in front of them.

The Pharisees didn’t notice Jesus in their quest for holiness.

The Sadducees didn’t notice Jesus in their navigation of Roman power.

The Essenes didn’t notice Jesus in their protests against compromise.

But Simeon did. A normal, godly man held the Messiah in his hands.

Are your pursuits bringing you peace?

Is your perspective eternal or temporary?

Is your devotion leading you toward Jesus or materialism or self?

When we take time to step back from our lives and look at what matters to us, we are often drawn to the larger moments—success and failure, sorrow and joy. We review our choices, our ambitions, and our disappointments, trying to make sense of the story unfolding before us. Yet, it’s easy to evaluate everything through a human lens. We can measure success by comfort, productivity, or recognition, and miss the deeper question of God's subtle work in our lives.

Jesus warned that even the simple "cares of life and the desires for other things" can choke what truly matters. We can organize, plan, and strive while quietly leaving God out of the conversation. We can fail to pay attention and miss the miracles happening in our own midst.

Leighton Ford said, "Perhaps inattentiveness is our greatest sin, not only against God but against ourselves." That means that attentiveness may be our greatest opportunity, learning to see and cultivate where God is at work in and around us.

God wants to restore your soul

God wants to restore your relationships

God wants to restore your sanity

God wants to restore what the devourer has snatched

God rewarded Simeon, and God wants to reward you, too.

He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

He speaks to those who care.

He guides those set on doing His will.

Rise above the frivolous masses.

“Peace is a promise You keep.”

Philippians 4:7 “7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

________________________________________________________________________

Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group)

This week we explored the Advent theme of PEACE given generously by God. What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you?

How does the birth of Christ embody the concept of peace as described in Micah 5:2-5?

Read Luke 2:25-35 as a group. What is the Holy Spirit saying through these verses?

In what ways can we cultivate a perspective like Simeon's in our daily lives?

What practical steps can we take to refocus our attention on God and His promises amidst distractions?

What are some common distractions in your life, and how can you address them to find more peace?

Read Matthew 6:19-34. What is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you as you read?