For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7
The second week of Advent’s theme is peace. Peace is something that I think most people would like a little more of. Parents want a house with peace and quiet, law enforcement would like the peace kept, and hospice workers try and help people remain at peace for the remainder of their time on earth. While most people want peace, peace is something that most people lack. Our lifestyles are go, go, go 24/7. The access to internet and all the disturbing headlines have left us all less than peaceful.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day is a song that cries for that peaceful feeling. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this song on Christmas Day in 1863 several years after his wife died. He was strolling the streets hearing the church bells proclaiming, “Peace on Earth, good will to men.” While hearing this message, his own heart was a bundle of sadness and unrest. It seemed to stand in direct contrast to what the church bells were proclaiming.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat of
Peace on Earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom had rolled along
Th’Unbroken song of
Peace on Earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
For hate is strong, and mocks the song of
Peace on Earth, good will to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with
Peace on Earth, good will to men.”
Till, ringing singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, of
Peace on Earth, good will to men.
We all feel this, don’t we? Not all of us have lost a spouse like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, but we all feel the effects of the fall. We aren’t promised our loved ones forever. There is turmoil in our families and in our friendships. Our sin gets in the way of our relationships creating an environment that isn’t peaceful at all.
It is healthy to understand the depth to which we have fallen. It is healthy to look around and see the sadness and hurt caused by our sinful natures. We with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow can despair, “There is no peace on earth.” When we take time to see how hopeless our situation is, we are more thankful for the gift that Jesus is in our lives.
Even though there is darkness, we take heart that we have a Savior that makes everything new. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow starts to remember as the bells keep ringing: “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead nor doth he sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men.” This world is a broken place. God has given us his Word to remind us that all is not lost. He is coming back for us and we will enter his rest where there will be peace forevermore.
As Christians it is our job to remind each other of this hope that we have in Jesus.
Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Hebrews 3:6
Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. Hebrews 3:13-14
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20
May the bells repeat the refrain of peace on earth, good will to men for us this Christmas season. Even if our hearts are in despair and we can’t see past all the darkness, may the bells keep repeating their refrain until our hearts have peace in Jesus. When we look around we are sure to find unrest instead of peace, but if we look to Jesus may our hearts find rest in him.
Journal Prompts
1.) Take a few minutes and examine your heart. Are you feeling peace or are you feeling the stress and tension that the sin of this world brings?
Read Psalm 4:8, 34:4, 85:8, 119:65, Isaiah 9:6-7, 26:3, 53:5, Luke 1:79, 2:14, John 14:27, 16:33, Romans 5:1, 8:6, 14:17, 15:13, Ephesians 4:3, Philippians 4:7, Colossians 3:15
2.) What are some ways that you can keep Jesus in the forefront of your mind to experience more peace this Christmas season?
Dear Heavenly Father,
We praise your name and we are so glad that you are peace. We know that you can see the state of our hearts and we pray that your peace would wash over all of our hearts and minds this Christmas season. Help us to place our eyes on you, the author and perfecter of our faith rather than on this sin stained world.
We pray this in Jesus’ name,
Amen