Peace on Earth!
Bible Reading: Luke 2:8-14
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors. Luke 2:14
You’ve probably sung each of the following Christmas songs below—except that the titles have been changed just to tweak your brains. See if you can figure out the real titles—the first one, for example, is “Deck the Halls.”
1. Decorate the interior passageways
2. Listen, the heavenly messengers produce musical sounds
3. The Christmas preceding all others
4. Move toward me, entire group of those who are loyal in their belief
5. Expectation of arrival to populated area by mythical, masculine perennial gift giver
6. The first person plural of a trio of Far Eastern heads of state
7. Small masculine master of percussion instrument
8. Yuletide celebration colored with a color that is no color
9. Happy Yuletide desired for the second person singular or plural by us
10. Nocturnal time span of total quietness
There was no mixed-up message when the angels sang, “Peace on earth.” They brought joyful news: Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace!
Jesus came to bring peace to your world. He wants to bring peace to you. And no person and no thing can provide the peace Jesus promises. His peace starts with the inner peace of trusting him and letting his peace rule your life.
As you grow in Jesus’ peace, you become a peacemaker just like him. When your family isn’t getting along at home, are you an agent for peace or do you make things worse? When your little brother starts bugging you, do you try to calm him or do you bug him just as badly? When your friends are acting hurtful or gossipy—and you are the victim—do you look for ways to work things out?
The peace Jesus provided—that you can experience today—is what Christmas is all about. So spread God’s peace. That’s a birthday present Jesus will appreciate.
TALK: How will you share the peace of Jesus today?
PRAY: Jesus, you brought real peace to our world. Make us peacemakers too.
ACT: Make a plan to spread God’s peace to the world around you.
Answers:
1. “Deck the Halls”; 2. “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”; 3. “The First Noel”; 4. “O Come, All Ye Faithful”; 5. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”; 6. “We Three Kings of Orient Are”; 7. “The Little Drummer Boy”; 8. “White Christmas”; 9. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”; 10. “Silent Night”