Kids Bible Devotional for December 19, 2024
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Focus Verse
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (KJV)
Jump Start
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her king...
No, you have not landed on a radio station playing Christmas music. But it is that time of the year to celebrate when Earth received her King. But why proclaim joy? After all, Jesus was born in a stable and lived a life of relative poverty in a land oppressed by foreigners.
The joy was in the promise of peace.
By definition, peace is the absence of war. Peace also means harmony. Jesus was heaven’s Christmas gift to the earth to bring humankind back into right relationship with God. We can have freedom from the bondage of sin because of the blood of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. We serve a new King who rules and reigns over a forever kingdom.
Today's Devotion
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” Eli boomed.
His mother clapped. “That was very good. I really like how you projected your voice. I think you’re ready for the Christmas play.” She brushed down the back of his angel costume. “But this costume could be taken in a little more.”
Eli pulled off the costume and handed it to his mother. “I have a question. What do my lines mean anyway?”
“What do you mean?” His mother forced the words as she dangled sewing pins between her lips.
“I get that the angels are telling the shepherds Jesus was born, but I learned some stuff in history.” Eli said. “From what I know, there wasn’t much peace on the earth when Jesus was born. Even now, we still have war.”
“Well, the angels weren’t talking about peace between men but peace between God and man.”
“Peace between God and man?” Eli asked.
“Yes. You see, when Adam sinned, a division grew between God and man.”
“Like the time Charlie and I got into an argument about who’s turn it was to feed Roscoe, our class guinea pig?”
“Not exactly.” Mom laid the costume on the sewing machine. “Take this garment, for example. If I ran it through the mud, could you wear it to the play?”
“Yuck! No. Sister Bosley would never let me on stage.”
“She would if I got all the stains out before you arrived. That’s what sin does. It sullies our relationship with God. A holy God cannot be in the presence of sin. So, what did He do? Jesus came to earth to restore our relationship with God. His blood washes away our sin. He was our peacemaker who made things right with God.”
“Okay, that makes sense,” Eli said. “I suppose that’s why we feel peace when we are filled with His Spirit. Everything is okay between us and God.”
“That’s exactly right,” Mom said. “Now, give me a few minutes to finish up your costume.”
“Just please don’t run it in through the mud, Mom. I don’t want to test your theory on Sister Bosley. She’s already stressed out because we still need to learn our songs.”
Wrap Up
Shalom. This is the Hebrew word for peace used by Jews in greetings and goodbyes. In the gospels, Jesus often greeted people, “Peace be unto you.”
We find this word mentioned in many places throughout the Bible. In Galatians 5:22, it is listed in the fruit of the Spirit. In Romans 5:1, Paul tells us that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. In the prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, He is called the Prince of peace.
In wartime, peace is when an agreement has been reached between the warring parties. With God, peace comes through Jesus Christ when we surrender our hearts to Him. We then have peace with God and peace in our soul. With Jesus, surrender is our ultimate victory.
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