Ephesians 2:14 (NIV)
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups
one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.
On Christmas Eve 1914, during the First World War, the
guns fell silent along a 30-mile stretch of the Western Front. Soldiers peered
cautiously over the tops of trenches while a few emerged to repair their
positions and bury the dead. As darkness fell, some German troops set out
lanterns and sang Christmas carols. Men on the British side applauded and
shouted greetings.
The next day, German, French, and British troops met in
no man’s land to shake hands, share food, and exchange gifts. It was a brief
respite from war that soon ended when the artillery and machine guns roared to
life again. But no one who experienced “The Christmas Truce,” as it became
known, would ever forget how it felt and how it fueled their longing for
lasting peace.
In Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah we read, “His
name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). By His death on the cross, Jesus removed the “no
man’s land” between us and God. “For He Himself is our peace” (Eph. 2:14).
In Jesus we can find lasting peace. Let that message shine forth this Christmas.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the special gift You gave for
us. A gift that can bring peace to the world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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