Christmas for Kids: 12 Days of PeaceSample

# The House of Peace ### By Nick K. STORY Have you ever noticed how being at home feels different from anywhere else?  Home should feel safe in a way nowhere else does. When it’s cold out, home should be warm. When you’re hungry, food should be waiting at home. When there’s trouble outside, home should be the place where you can get away . . . except when home is broken. We all know what it’s like when things aren’t great at home. But even when things aren’t perfect, we still have the promise of what home ought to be. SCRIPTURE Read 2 Samuel 7:11–14. THINK Well, this is an interesting Scripture when it comes to peace! On one hand, it sounds awesome. God promises David a family line that will have the blessing of God forever. Can you imagine a country where there is peace for everybody? Sounds great! Did you read the last part? As long as the king follows God, things will be good; but if he rejects God’s way he’s in for some punishment. SPOILER ALERT: David’s son fails to follow God the way he was supposed to, and David’s line seemingly comes to ruin. Does that mean God’s promise to set up a kingdom of peace forever is over? Nope! Turns out this promise isn’t just about David’s son (Solomon) but about a Son that would come hundreds of years later. Jesus is the King in David's family tree that is also God’s Son . Where countries and kings fail, Jesus brings the true and lasting peace we wait for. Remember what I said about home? We all want what home feels like when it’s good. That’s peace. David’s family would be unable to have that perfect peace in their time, just like our homes won’t always be great in ours. But He has put that idea of peace and home in our hearts because someday Jesus will make good on that promise God made so long ago. DO SOMETHING You can be that peace for someone today! Go outside with someone from your family and play, then come in and read something together. PRAY Dear God, thank You for the peace You bring through Jesus. Help me to make others feel the peace You have given me.  Help me to make others feel at home! Amen.