Winter Fire – Prince of Peace - Wednesday
Today’s Verse
Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (NLT)
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!
On behalf of everyone here at Southland, we wish you all a very merry Christmas. I pray that today brings you rest, joy, and a deeper sense of the peace that Jesus offers as we celebrate His birth!
As Christians, we have a unique relationship with peace. Through Jesus, we experience a peace that goes beyond understanding, a peace that quiets our hearts and minds. But the peace we receive isn’t meant to stop with us. We’re called to be distributors of that peace to those around us. It's a little like a Christmas gift—there is nothing like the feeling of watching someone you love open a gift you spent days choosing. It's wonderful to receive a gift, but I would argue that giving a gift is so much better!
In Galatians 5, Paul explains that followers of Jesus have complete freedom because of Jesus and are no longer slaves to their sinful desires. Paul writes a fairly robust description of someone who is living in sin (Galatians 5:13-21) but then contrasts that person with a description of someone who lives in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26). In his description of those who are living in step with the Spirit, Paul writes that the overflow of following Jesus involves being a peacemaker. Living in step with the Spirit means cultivating peace, both in our hearts and in our relationships. As we receive peace from God, we’re empowered to share it with others.
In a world that is so strained with anger and division, we can be people who partner with the mission of the Prince of Peace and help bring peace to those around us. We get to be people who listen well and balance truth and grace to those around us. Today, that might mean choosing to fight for peace when family tensions are high, or choosing to offer a word of kindness to someone struggling. While we might not have it all figured out in our own lives, we get the opportunity to help extend peace into other people’s lives through His help. When we display peace, we reflect the heart of Jesus. May we be known as peacemakers in a world that so desperately needs the Prince of Peace.
REFLECTION
Is there someone in your life who you could help bring a little extra peace to this Christmas? Maybe it's the person experiencing their first Christmas as a single parent amidst a messy divorce. Maybe a co-worker is spending the day with their family, despite high family tensions that make time together difficult. Perhaps a grandparent is spending their first Christmas without their spouse. Reach out to them and tell them that you’re thinking about them and that you love them—it may be the best Christmas gift they get this year.