Meditations on the Meaning of ChristmasPrøve

Peace Guaranteed! Read: John 16:32-33 Imagine someone you love was in some sort of competition. Any competition will work, and it is the final leg. It could be a baking competition, a sporting competition, a chess tournament, a marathon, or a singing competition. It’s nerve racking, isn’t it? You are cheering for them enthusiastically. And then it happens. A voice crack, the bowl of mixed ingredients hits the floor, the runner falls, a bad move is made. It is not over, but it kind of feels like it. How will they possibly overcome this trial, this mistake, this hardship? But what if you knew how it ended before the competition began? What if you knew your loved one would win? The experience of watching would become completely different. In a sense, you would have peace. You would still have to watch your loved one experience pain and loss, but you would know that they came out the other side victorious. This is what Jesus is proclaiming to us in this Scripture. As we have studied the progression of peace in this devotional we see that God in his grace and mercy is comprehensive. He has given us everything we need. Peace Declared: Unto us a child is born who will be the prince of peace. The way! Peace Defined: Peace not as the world defines peace, but as God defines peace. The Truth! Peace Delivered: Peace received by grace through faith and cherished. The Life! Peace Discerned: Ultimately understanding that we have peace with God the Father through Jesus Christ. And Peace Determined!! The glorious revelation in John 16:33 is that we know how it ends. Even though we have opposition, even though the world is waging war against the truth, Satan and and his demons are quaking because Jesus has overcome death and sin. It is done, peace has been determined, and the outcome is known to us. As we experience trials and tribulations we have the peace of knowing how it ends. We are forgiven, saved, at peace with God the Father, with the Holy Spirit living in us as a guarantee of our salvation. Jesus has given us peace that passes understanding and lives in us. Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace! Reflect * In what ways are you not feeling peace right now? * Meditate, and maybe journal, on how you are experiencing Christ’s peace in you. * Peace determined, do you feel it? Do you know it? Pray for a deeper understanding of the fact that Christ has already won and for the peace that comes with a deeper faith in this truth through any trial.