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The Angels' Song - Tracy 2
Sermon Summary
Tracy teaches that true peace, as promised by God and revealed through Jesus—the ultimate peacemaker—is not merely the absence of conflict but the wholeness and restoration of our relationship with God and others, inviting us to seek Him for completeness and to follow His example in making peace in our lives and communities.
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The story of Christmas is not just a tale of angels and shepherds, but a profound declaration of peace—God’s peace—breaking into our world. As we approach Christmas, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and nostalgia, but the angelic proclamation in Luke 2 is a radical promise: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” Yet, when we look around, true peace often seems elusive. Wars rage, relationships fracture, and our own hearts can feel restless and incomplete.
To understand this peace, we must return to its biblical roots. In the Old Testament, “peace” (shalom) is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of wholeness, restoration, and completeness. The priestly blessing in Numbers 6—“The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”—was a gift, a divine act of restoration between God and his people. Today, through Jesus, we are offered this same peace, not through rituals or sacrifices, but as a gift of grace. Jesus is the one who completes us, who fills the God-shaped hole in our hearts, and who restores our relationship with our Creator.
Life is full of “munted pieces”—brokenness, regrets, and gaps we try to fill with things that don’t fit. Like a jigsaw puzzle with a missing or damaged piece, we can feel incomplete. But Jesus is the missing piece, the only one who can truly make us whole. This peace is not passive; it’s not just about keeping the status quo or avoiding conflict. Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, not just peacekeepers or peacebuilders. Peacemaking can be costly—it may require hard conversations, confronting injustice, or even disrupting the status quo for the sake of restoration.
Jesus himself said he did not come to bring peace as the world defines it, but a sword—because true peace sometimes means putting God first, even when it causes tension. Peacemaking is active, sometimes gentle, sometimes bold, but always rooted in love and truth. We cannot build lasting peace with others until we are at peace with God, and this comes through seeking him with all our hearts. As we follow Jesus, the ultimate Peacemaker, we are invited to bring his shalom into our relationships, our communities, and our world—one restored relationship at a time.
Key Takeaways
1. True peace is wholeness, not just quiet:
Biblical peace (shalom) is about being made whole and restored, not simply the absence of conflict. It is a deep, God-given completeness that touches every part of our lives, even in the midst of chaos. This peace is a gift from God, available to us through Jesus, who fills the gaps and mends the brokenness in our hearts.
2. Jesus is the missing piece in our lives:
No matter how we try to fill the emptiness or fix our “munted pieces,” only Jesus can truly complete us. Our attempts to find satisfaction elsewhere leave us restless and unsatisfied, but Christ offers a peace that restores our relationship with God and gives us lasting purpose and value.
3. Peacemaking is active and sometimes costly:
Being a peacemaker, as Jesus calls us to be, is not about avoiding conflict or simply keeping the peace. It often requires courage to address wrongs, speak truth, and pursue restoration, even when it’s uncomfortable or disruptive. True peacemaking may shake things up, but it leads to genuine healing and wholeness.
4. Restoration with God precedes peace with others:
We cannot build real, enduring peace with others until we are first restored to God. This partnership with the Holy Spirit is essential; it empowers us to forgive, to seek reconciliation, and to love beyond our own strength. Seeking God wholeheartedly is the foundation for all other peacemaking.
5. Jesus’ peace is offered daily—receive and share it:
Jesus greeted and parted with “Shalom Lachem—peace be with you.” His peace is not a one-time event, but a daily invitation to receive and extend wholeness to others. As we go about our lives, we are called to follow his example, bringing peace into every interaction and relationship.
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