"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." -~Luke 2:14

A government order required Jospeph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem. After arriving in Bethlehem, Mary went into labor and gave birth to her firstborn son. He was named Jesus. 

As Mary swaddled and nursed her newborn child, God was speaking to shepherds. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and God's glory filled the night sky. Naturally the shepherds were terrified, but the angel had come in peace declaring, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11). Good news of great joy: God had sent a baby, HIS SON, to be the Savior! As the shepherds listened and watched with amazement and wonder at this great news, an army of angels began to sing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!" (Luke 2:14). The Savior has come! Christ the Lord is here! He offers PEACE to all people!

This is Luke's message to us in 2020: PEACE HAS COME! We all need the peace that Luke speaks of and that God offers to all people.

Our world desparately needs peace. 
There was a time when everything was in it proper place, but when sin entered the world everything was thrown out of alignment (Genesis 1-3). Sin brought disruption to the vertical and horizontal harmony that our world once new. There was verticle peace between God and people, but sin has separated us (Genesis 3:8, 24; Isaiah 59:2). There was horizontal peace between people, but sin has disrupted our relationships (Genesis 3:16). There was a profitable relationship between humanity and the environment, but now the environment has been "enslaved to corruption" (Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 8:18-24).

Natural disasters, novel viruses that attack humanity, riots and rage, cancer and depression are all evidence that our world needs peace.

Every person desparately needs peace.  
Our world is out of alignment because of our sin. Sin entered the word through Adam and spread to every person of every generation (Romans 5:12). "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Your sin separates your from God and places you under His condemnation (Romans 1:18). 
You may be tempted to respond to this assessment by saying, "But I'm not really that bad. I've never committed any really bad sins." Let me ask you a question, "How many sins did it take for Adam to stand condemned?" ONE!

There will be a final judgment when you will stand before throne of God and He will judge you according to your deeds (Revelation 20:12). The reality of final judgment would lead us to total despair if it wasn't for the good news of great joy found in Luke 2.

THE PRINCE OF PEACE HAS COME! 
Jesus is the Prince of Peace and He has come to restore vertical and horizontal peace through his death on the cross (Colossians 1:20, 22). Sinners find forgiveness and cleansing at the cross of Christ (Colossians 2:14). Differing people groups experience reconciliation at the cross of Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16). Even creation will be relieved of its "anxious longing" at the cross of Christ because in His death Christ secured a new creation (Ephesians 1:10).

Peace has come. Peace has a Name-Jesus. 

Have you truly found peace? When the shepherds heard this news they left immediatly to go find Jesus (Luke 2:15-20). You can find true peace when you find Jesus and live for His glory! 

How can you use this sermon review in your life this week?
1. Keep it close by as you pray and let it help you express thankfulness to God for bringing peace to you. 
2. Read Luke 2:1-20 during a family devotion this week and use this review to help your children know that they can have peace with God. 
3. Share this on your FaceBook page so that your friends and family may hear the message of peace this Christmas. 
4. Print it off and give a copy to your co-workers or leave a copy in the lunch room.