Let The Peace Of God Come Into Our Hearts Series

Let the Peace of God Come Into Our Hearts

Every year at this time, many of us get exhausted or we are under stress from our responsibilities. Christmas is looming around the corner. There is still so much to do.

This is a stressful time for many of us. The Advent season was supposed to be our chance to get ready, but in another week, it will be over and the glorious awaited and anticipated day will be here. We already started decorations at the church and our houses. All the decorations will be in place, the amazon packages and gifts will all be wrapped, the gift cards will have been sent--then, whether we are ready or not, Christmas Day will arrive.

Are you prepared for Christmas? I mean the real Christmas. Christ in Christmas! Not the Christmas of Santa Claus and reindeer and decoration and expensive gifts--even though these things hold their importance and significance. Are you ready for the birth of the Messiah?

Isaiah spoke of this Messiah long before Jesus’ birth: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

His name is called Prince of Peace. Christ comes to bring peace into a weary world.

Paul the apostles says in Philippians 4:4-5. He gives us a formula for getting our hearts ready for Christmas. Listen closely to his words: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is near. (at hand). Again, He says in verses 6 &7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.”

In these words, Paul gives us a comprehensive formula for finding peace this Christmas--a peace which, as he says, surpasses (transcends) all understanding. Let’s consider for a few moments this formula Paul gives us and see if it brings us peace during this Advent season.

Let’s begin with “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

Christmas is a time for the spirit of joy. Nehemiah 8:10, Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength". In Luke 2:10-11 we see: “Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” But St. Paul’s approach to “rejoicing in the Lord always” means that we accept the present suffering in the world and at the same time rejoice in the Lord. Paul wrote this letter from prison--while on death row. He was in chains, waiting to find out if he would be sentenced to death.

Paul had an amazing and joyful spirit. Let us read II Cor. 11:25-28. Three times he was shipwrecked; he was stoned. Five times he was scourged, and he was beaten many times as well. He’d been the focus of riots and death threats, and after one tormenting, near-death experience, he endured a venomous viper bite! Yet these experiences could not take away his joy.

It is obvious from Paul’s example that joy does not mean everything is going your way. Joy does not mean receiving everything you desire in life. Joy doesn’t mean having enormous or expensive gifts under your Christmas tree. Joy doesn’t come from fame and prosperity. Joy comes from an inner assurance that whatever you are going through, whether good times or bad, that God is with you.

Guess what! Do you know, which is the right time for dancing, it is at Christmas. The Lord of all the heavens and earth has come into our world as a tiny babe. What a supreme cause for celebration. In some churches the third Sunday in Advent is known as Gaudete (gow-DEH-teh) Sunday, from the Latin word for “rejoice.” Philippians 4:4, 5: "Gaudete Domino semper" ("Rejoice in the Lord always"). It is a reminder that as we await our Lord’s second coming, we do so in a spirit of anticipation and hope. This season invites us to prepare our hearts not only for Christ’s return but also for the joy of celebrating His birth. This joy is threaded throughout the season, echoed in the carols we sing and the promises we remember—“Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” Even amid the busyness of this time of year, this time calls us to pause and recognize the deep and abiding joy that Christ brings.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” writes St. Paul. Some of us fail to walk in the joy of the Lord.