Day 10 – Christmas Means Peace
Read
Micah 5:1-5; John 14:27
The social pressure to buy everyone a gift, go to every party, and fulfill every holiday tradition isn’t going away. Somehow, the happiest season of all is the most stressful. We sing about peace yet rush through each day without it. But what if this Christmas could be different?
“And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.” – Micah 5:4-5
It was prophesied that Jesus would come as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). The Israelites were in and out of captivity, always wondering who may conquer them next. With each new ruler came new rules and the new rules caused new worries. Israel was looking for relief from the constant pressures of life and both the prophets Isaiah and Micah shared that out of humble beginnings God would bring peace to His people.
The holidays bring about a whole slew of expectations and demands on our lives. When we get caught up in them we can forget that God doesn’t want our lives to be filled with so many stressors. Jesus left us His peace and we are reminder that He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14). This season, when we focus on Jesus first and let go of societal pressures, we find ourselves not only able to experience His peace but also able to share it with others.
Reflect:
- What pressures are taking your focus away from why we celebrate Christmas?
- How can focusing on Jesus, through both prayer and action, bring about peace?