Welcome back to our special Advent edition of the Daily Devos. Advent means “the arrival.” It is a way to look back and celebrate the Son of God coming to earth to be born as a baby in a manger while we also look forward to His second coming when creation will be redeemed and restored. Through December, we invite you to experience Advent in your own story.
Each week, we will discover a theme or a promise seen in the birth of Jesus that carries us through the “already not yet” as we await the arrival of His eternal Kingdom. This week, we are looking at the promise of PEACE.
Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
I don’t know about you, but peace can sometimes feel hard to come by during the Christmas season. Navigating the holiday traffic on Hardy Street, listening as your uncle shares his political views at the family gathering, dropping a paycheck on Christmas gifts for all your family members, surviving the family Christmas card photoshoot - although PEACE is one of the themes of Advent, the days leading up to Christmas can tend to feel far more chaotic and tense than peaceful.
Fortunately, peace isn’t something that we have to create in our own strength; instead, through Christ Jesus, we can have peace that surpasses all understanding! Read today’s passage with me:
“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:17-20
In this passage, Paul reminds the church at Ephesus that Jesus came to earth to offer peace to all people, Jews and Gentiles. He offers peace both to the "distant" Gentiles, as well as to the "nearby" Jewish nation - and Jesus offers that same peace to us today! Peace through Christ is also referenced earlier in this passage. Check out verses 13-14 with me:
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”
We see in these verses that the great news for us is Jesus does not simply give peace; He is peace. Peace is because of who He is and what He has done on the cross, through the outpouring of His blood we can be at peace with God. God’s peace isn’t dependent on our circumstances. It doesn’t come from sitting by the fireplace sipping hot cocoa or getting along with difficult family members. His peace comes from placing our full confidence in Him and giving thanks for all that He has done. On this Christmas Eve, we can be reminded that peace came into this world 2,000 years ago as a baby in a lowly manger! And through the greatest gift of all - Jesus Christ - we can live in true and lasting peace in a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- What are some things that can personally make it difficult for you to remember God’s peace during this season?
- Read Philippians 4:6-7. This verse reminds us that prayer and thanksgiving will guard our hearts with peace through Christ Jesus. Make a list of things that you are thankful for today. Then, spend a few moments in prayer, thanking God and praising Him for who He is.
- Join us today for the Christmas Eve experience at your campus! For experience times, visit the Christmas Eve webpage.
- Come back tomorrow for this week’s Advent Daily Devo video!
- Find more Advent tools and resources at venturechurch.org/advent.