Peace for Whom?

Luke 2 has some of the most familiar and encouraging words of Christmas?  I mean, in particular verse 11, which says, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  And how about verse 14?  When the multitude of the heavenly host praise God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those with whom [God] is well pleased!” But the question has to be asked, for whom is this peace given?

Do you see?  There is a somber note sounded in the angel’s praise when they say that there is peace only among those with whom God is well pleased.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith, it is impossible to please God.”  So Christmas does not bring peace to all men.  It brings the opportunity for peace, but not necessarily peace itself.  So peace depends on a response from men to Jesus.  In fact, Jesus says in John 3:19, “This is judgment: that the light has come into the world [that’s Jesus’ birth], and the people loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.”  So the question that you have to ask yourself is this, are you celebrating Christ’s birth this Christmas and is your faith in Him alone?  That's the only way to have peace and be among those with whom God is well pleased?

Something to think about from the Proclamation point of view.