“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”  Colossians 3:15

We hear the word “peace” mentioned many times at Christmas in songs, on holiday cards and billboards around the city.  But what does “peace” really mean?  Will the world ever see peace when they have crucified the Prince of Peace and refused Him from their conference tables?  It is reported that since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at “peace” less than eight percent of the time!  In its study, The Personnel Journal discovered that of 3530 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace in spite of more than 8000 peace treaties made—and broken!  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27

 On December 24, 1914, an amazing event occurred in the muddy trenches of World War I.  It was Christmas Eve and the soldiers of the British and French Army were huddled in trenches along the Western Front.  They had ceased combat operations and were preparing a small Christmas celebration.  Across the combat zone known as “No Man’s Land,” the German Army was doing the same in their own cold, dirty trenches.  The war was only 5 months old, but already they had seen poisonous gas, heavy artillery and death by the thousands.

Sometime around 9 pm, a British soldier saw lighted candles and heard carols being sung.  His commanding officer was astonished to see an unarmed German soldier walking toward them bearing a white flag.  He crawled out of the trench and met the soldier halfway across the battlefield.  The officers agreed they would call an unofficial truce until midnight Christmas night.

All along the Western front, hundreds of soldiers on both sides poured out of the ditches to celebrate Christmas with the men they swore to kill.  They exchanged candy, played games and sang the hymns of Christmas, not caring that some sang “Silent Night” and some sang “Stille Nacht.”  As Christmas Eve turned to Christmas Day, the friendships continued and the men on either side began to think about how this Christmas miracle changed their perception of the conflict.  When the time came to resume hostilities, the British and German soldiers told their new friends to, “stay low and we will aim high when ordered to open fire!”  The British commander was later court-martialed for “fraternizing with the enemy.”  World War I dragged on for four more years at the cost of 38 million casualties.

It was a brief moment of “peace” in the middle of the conflict.  We can experience the peace of God no matter what we encounter.  “He is our peace.”  He can reign in every facet of our lives.  Are you carrying a load that was never meant for your shoulders?  Let the peace of God “rule” in your life, let Him govern your thoughts and actions.  The peace OF God comes when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Peace WITH God is an ongoing work of sanctification, living as “set apart” believers.

“For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called…….Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.” Isaiah 9:6-7.  Hallellujah!!!

Your friend, Jean