12/18-12/24

Advent Week 4 Devotional: PEACE

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Isaiah prophesied that a child would be born for God’s people, with authority resting “upon his shoulders,” and the child would be named “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Great will be his authority, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:6-7 NRSV). This “Prince of Peace” with great authority that Isaiah described is Jesus, the child born to Mary and Joseph and placed in the feeding trough nearly 2,000 years ago. The night Christ was born a multitude joined the angel who appeared to the shepherds praising the Lord and proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors” (Luke 2:14 NRSV). The message of the angelic multitude is that God offers us peace because we are recipients of the Lord’s grace. Decades after Jesus’ birth during his time of ministry he said, “my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27 NRSV). The Prince of Peace offers us his peace, which the world cannot provide. Will you receive the peace the Lord is offering you this Christmas?

This daily devotional for the fourth week of the season is designed to help you focus on the PEACE offered to us through Jesus. The format is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day. Below is a guide for the weekly and daily use of this Advent devotional:

Each Week

• Answer the Advent Questions
• Watch the Advent Theme Bible Project video once, preferably on Sunday or Monday
• Listen to the hymn a few times throughout the week, perhaps on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, or whichever days the Holy Spirit guides you to listen

Each Day

• Read the brief portion of the hymn lyrics to begin
• Read the Bible verses for the day
• Think through your responses to the Daily Questions
• Pray
• Live in joyful response to Jesus

 

Week #4 Advent Questions:

You may find it helpful to write your responses to the following questions or to talk about them with a family member, friend, or your small group:

 

How did focusing on joy last week help me to be more joyful?

 

How am I experiencing the peace that is found in and through the Prince of Peace?

 

How am I responding to the peace God offers through Christ by seeking peace with others and in the world?

 

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Am I resting in Christ each day by giving my cares and concerns to the One who can carry far more than I can?

 

Am I giving my body the sleep God designed it to receive each day? If not, why not?

 

Am I resting each week by observing a partial or full Sabbath? If not, what do I need to stop doing so that I can have time to rest each day and observe the Sabbath?

 

Daily Hymn:

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, each day this week read part of the hymn lyrics from “O Come, All Ye Faithful” by John F. Wade:

Child, for us sinners

poor and in the manger,

we would embrace thee

with love and awe.

Who would not love thee,

loving us so dearly?

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

 

Advent Theme Video:

You are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the biblical theme of PEACE this week either using the link below or searching for it on Youtube:

Shalom – Peace by the Bible Project

 

Daily Bible Verses to Read:

Sunday – Isaiah 2:1-5 (Come let us go to the mountain & temple of the Lord a place of peace)

 

Monday – Isaiah 54:10 (a covenant of peace)

 

Tuesday – Micah 5:2-5a (a ruler born in Bethlehem…he will be our peace)

 

Wednesday – Romans 5:1-2 (we are justified thru faith, and we have peace with God)

 

Thursday – Romans 15:13 (may God fill you with peace)

 

Friday – Isaiah 11:1-10 (the peacefulness made possible by the child who leads us)

 

Saturday (Christmas Eve) – Psalm 29 (the Lord sits enthroned forever & blesses his people with peace)

 

Daily Questions in Response to the Bible Verse(s):

What does this message from God shared through the Bible verse(s) reveal about PEACE?

 

Where am I witnessing peace (completeness and wholeness) in my life or the lives of others?

 

What, if anything, is preventing me from experiencing completeness and wholeness?

 

How can I help others to experience peace (completeness and wholeness) today?

 

Listen to the Hymn:

You are encouraged to listen to the hymn for this week at least on a few days either using the links below for the YouTube videos, through Spotify, Apple Music, or another streaming service, or using versions that are familiar to you that you have available:

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Hillsong’s version

 

Josh Groban’s version

 

Pray:

Child of the Most High God,

you who became a poor infant placed in a manger,

we embrace you with the love

we have received from our heavenly Father.

We embrace you, Jesus, with awe and wonder.

You have dearly loved us, so we respond by coming to worship and adore you, Christ, the Lord.

You have dearly loved me, so I respond by offering you my life as an offering, Christ, my Lord.

King Jesus, I adore you. I love you, Lord!

You are the Christ, the anointed one, the long-awaited king.

You are fully God, and yet you were also fully human in the womb,

at your birth, throughout your life on earth,

during your death and resurrection.

You reign now and forever, Christ, the Lord.

I come to you knowing I am a sinner in need of a Savior.

Forgive me, Holy One.

Help me to forgive others as I have been forgiven.

I surrender my life and will to you, King Jesus.

In the the Father, Son, and Spirit I pray. Amen.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.