
Day 18: A result of Christmas - Peace
In Luke’s Christmas account in Chapter 2, we see that He chose some unlikely recipients to convey His message to. Suddenly a great company of host appear with the angel in the account and are shouting “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Peace on earth and good will toward men! This phrase has become part of some of our most loved Christmas songs…we sing them every Christmas, yet if we are honest they are lyrics that sound good in a song or a Hallmark card but PEACE is something that was PROMISED but seems to be MISSING from most of our lives! Instead of PEACE there is PANIC, PROBLEMS, PRESSURE, PAIN, and there are PEOPLE! Peace with God paves the way to peace with myself and peace with others! Happy people are at peace with themselves, others and with God. Because of Christmas I can have peace with God! Peace with God is restored by confessing my sin and saying “Yes” to where Jesus is leading me. We can quit trying to make our peace with God and start living at peace with God.
Read Ephesians 2:1-10
Q: What are some ways people try to find peace?
Q: “Sin kills peace.” What are some ways that sin and its consequences destroy peace?
Q: How has peace with God been made available?
Read Philippians 4:4-9
Q: The opposite of peace and contentment is worry, anxiety, and a disabling fear. What are the things that you tend to worry most about and why?
Q: What effects has worry had on the peace and contentment that is available for you from God?
Q: What does the passage say about the process of avoiding worry and anxiety?
Q: Is your peace and contentment often closely associated with your circumstances? How would you be able to tell whether that was the case or not?