TLIC Family. PROVERBS. DECEMBER 20: PEACE.

THINK TOGETHER.

Do you remember the Christmas story about the shepherds?

READ TOGETHER

Proverbs 3:17. [Wisdom’s] ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

On the night that Jesus was born, Shepherds were watching over their flocks by night nearby. Suddenly an angel appeared and announced to them the good news that Jesus had been born. Here’s the story from Luke’s gospel:

Luke 2:8-14. ⁸And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The angels didn’t just announce the birth of Jesus, they announced peace on earth. As we see in Proverbs 3:17, wisdom and peace go hand in hand. If you want to have God’s peace you must also have God’s wisdom. The New Testament will explain to us that Jesus is both. Jesus is God’s wisdom, and Jesus is God’s peace.

Wisdom is trusting and fearing God, and following his path. That’s what Jesus did for us. Even when we are not wise, he was wise in our place. Peace comes when we trust in Jesus to save us. Peace means that we are reconciled to God, that we are his friends. When Jesus came as a baby he came to trust God in our place (wisdom) so that we too might have his wisdom and peace as his gift.

Because of Jesus we are counted as wise before God.

With Jesus we can have his peace in our hearts.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas together. In what ways does Charlie Brown lack wisdom and peace? What story does Linus read in order to teach Charlie Brown what peace is?

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, I need your peace in my heart. Help me to trust your wisdom in order to have your peace. Amen.