An All-Gracious King

**Before you being reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for one minute.**

“Peace on earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
                                                                                 – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

To: The Earth and Men and Women
From: Heaven’s All-Gracious King

    The way the line is phrased in the hymn above sounds to me like a gift to with a “To” and “From” label on a Christmas gift. God's peace is a great gift to us! The verse comes from Luke 2:14. An angel of the Lord had just pronounced to the shepherds that a Savior has been born, and that he is the Christ. This verse in the hymn refers to when angels join in praising God after the birth of Christ. The peace that he brings is reconciliation between God and man. It comes from heaven’s all-gracious King. ALL-GRACIOUS. In his grace does Jesus come and through his grace does he save giving us peace. 
    Jesus is an all-gracious King. He extends grace as the greatest ruler. He does not hold back, he is good and he does not have favorites. He is a King who is full of grace. We have no concept of what that is like. We have ever only seen human, flawed rulers yet Jesus is fully God, fully human and a perfect ruler that brings perfect grace that leads to the greatest peace for earth.
    What a gift to receive this Christmas!

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**