Updated for Advent 2026, which begins Sunday, November 29.
Key Verse
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14, ESV)
Reflection
The night Jesus was born, a group of shepherds were watching their flocks on the hills outside Bethlehem. An angel appeared, announced the good news, and then suddenly the sky filled with a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God. Their song is one of the most famous in history: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
The song has two parts, and they belong together. First, “Glory to God in the highest.” The birth of Jesus is, above all, a display of God’s glory. His wisdom, love, power, and faithfulness are on full display in a manger. Heaven cannot stay silent. The angels burst into praise.
Second, “and on earth peace.” What happens in heaven brings peace to earth. When God is glorified, peace follows. That peace is not merely the absence of conflict. The biblical word for peace means wholeness, flourishing, everything being as it should be. Jesus came to bring that kind of peace.
At the time, the Roman Empire claimed to offer peace. Caesar Augustus, mentioned at the beginning of Luke 2, was celebrated for the Pax Romana, the peace of Rome. But it was a peace enforced by soldiers and swords. The angels announce a different peace, one that comes not through military might but through a baby in a feeding trough.
The deepest peace Jesus brings is peace with God. Our sin had separated us from him. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus reconciled us to the Father. Paul later writes that since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Everything else flows from that.
Peace with God then leads to peace within. Anxious hearts can rest because we know we are loved and secure. And it leads to peace with others. Jesus breaks down walls between people and calls his followers to be peacemakers.
“Among those with whom he is pleased.” This phrase is not saying that peace is only for people who have earned God’s approval. It speaks of God’s favor, his grace freely given. The peace of Christmas is a gift for those who receive his grace.
December can be one of the least peaceful months of the year. Calendars fill up, budgets stretch, family tensions rise, and the world’s headlines rarely bring calm. The angels’ song is a reminder that true peace does not depend on a perfect holiday. It comes from the Prince of Peace himself.
This week, as you rush from one thing to the next, pause long enough to listen for that ancient song. Give glory to God, and receive the peace he came to bring.
Today, Try This
Choose one moment today to stop for two minutes of silence. Read Luke 2:14 slowly, give glory to God for one specific thing, and ask him for his peace in the area where you feel most unsettled.
Reflection Question
Where do you most need the peace of Christ this Advent season: with God, within yourself, or with someone else?
Prayer
Glory to you, God, in the highest. Thank you for sending Jesus to bring peace on earth. Give me peace with you, peace in my heart, and peace in my relationships. In the busyness of this season, let me rest in the Prince of Peace. Amen.
Keep Reading
- Explore more: Advent devotionals
- Read today’s and past daily devotionals
- Go deeper: the birth of Jesus (Luke 2 study)
- Start here: what the narrow gate means (Matthew 7:13-14)
Keep Reading
- Advent Hope Devotional: Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6)
- Advent Hope Devotional: Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6)
- Advent Hope Devotional: Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)
- More Devotionals
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is peace the second theme of Advent?
Many churches light the second Advent candle for peace, sometimes called the Bethlehem candle. It reflects the promised Prince of Peace and the angels' song. After hope comes peace, because the coming Savior reconciles people to God and brings rest to troubled hearts.
What does "peace among those with whom he is pleased" mean?
It means God's peace rests on people who receive His favor, His undeserved grace. It is not a reward for being pleasing; rather, God freely chooses to show favor through Jesus. The peace announced at Christmas comes to those who receive Him by faith.
How can I find peace during a stressful Christmas season?
Find peace at Christmas by remembering that the season celebrates what God has done, not what you must accomplish. Simplify plans, protect a few quiet minutes each day for Scripture and prayer, and hand your anxieties to God, trusting the Prince of Peace with your to-do list.