“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14
Our Father, we confess that we live in a broken and rebellious world in which peace is an elusive experience for many. We are sorry for our sin that has separated us from You and has put us at odds with our fellow man.
But, we praise You that Christmas is Your definitive answer to all of the life’s darkness, disappointments and unrest. Thank You for sending Jesus into the world, for truly the answer to the hopes and fears of all our years are found in Him.
We marvel that this Jesus who was laid in a first-century food trough has become our “Prince of Peace,” (Isa. 9:6), and that “through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross” (Col. 1:20). We praise You for Jesus, for He is the only One who is able to take the place that we deserve to take because of our sin – and He is the only One who loves us enough to choose to take our place, despite our sin.
We thank You that finding true Peace, is about believing and embracing what Jesus has achieved – for He is our Peace. We look forward to the day when the words of John become reality, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:3-4).
Our Father, until that day, keep us in perfect peace as we seek to keep our mind stayed on You. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.