Meditations on the Meaning of ChristmasSample

A Story of Peace

Read: Luke 2:11-14

A real danger in any relationship is to take it for granted, to forget the love you had at first. We see this caution to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:4 warning that they had lost their first love in Jesus.

One of my favourite things to do is to recount how I met my wife and our whole courtship and dating relationship. Our kids get a kick out of the ways we tell it, consistently differing on certain parts for dramatic or humorous effect, but it is always encouraging to remember how our liking first turned to love, and then to see how far we have come together.

This is what the story of Jesus’ coming needs to do in our hearts. It needs to be our favourite thing to recount. These verses are an amazing part of the beginning of the greatest story ever told. What a beautiful, kind, awe-inspiring way for God to announce the Saviour of the world! The fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy announced, and a multitude of angels praising God. And there it is again, that wonderful theme word of these devotionals, peace.

Christ the Lord has come, and in this announcement, we see that the primary purpose of his coming is to bring peace to the earth. In fact, the peace that he is bringing ultimately will give glory to God the Father and bring the opportunity for mankind to have peace with God again, the very thing we lost when sin entered the world.

Jesus enters the world, God with us. Amazing! Let me encourage you today to recount when this changed from story to belief in your life, spend time thinking about your salvation story. Recount to yourself and others what Jesus’ coming to earth has done in you since you decided to believe and follow him. Think of the areas of your life that have greater peace because you know Jesus.

Lastly, if you do not know Jesus, let me encourage you to pray for faith to believe and experience not the story, but the reality of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ in your life!

Reflect

• Is the story of your own salvation your favourite so-to-speak, or are you taking it for granted?
• Reflect on the fact that Christ came and was God with us, and now the Holy Spirit lives in you...God in us!!
• Feel like worshipping like an angel? Perhaps sing, say or pray a few times “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”