Sunday, December 21, 2008

Twelve Days for Christmas: Day 9

Reference: Warren, Rick (2008). The Purpose of Christmas. Howard Books, pp. 87-103.

Today’s reading focuses on Christmas’ purpose of reconciliation. The babe in Bethlehem came that we might have peace. Peace with God, the peace of God and peace with others.

Prince of Peace. Of all the names Isaiah listed for the coming Messiah, “Prince of Peace” touches my heart most deeply. I crave peace. I have known enough chaos to last a hundred lifetimes. Much of it was of my own making. Like the prodigal son, I took my inheritance and squandered it on riotous living. I thought I had a plan. The plan turned out to be a dead end.

But the Father knew I could never find my way back to Him on my own. So He sent His Son. He made a way for you and for me to come home, to be reunited with our Father. Peace with God means unholy man being reconciled to a holy God. Only the Son Himself could accomplish such a task. He chose to do so at a cost we may never fully grasp. At Christmas, we rejoice and mark the day His great Mercy came to dwell among us.

May you feel His grace today,
Gail W.

The last Word:
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Isaiah 55:1, NIV.

4 comments:

Denise said...

Thanks for always welcoming me home Father.

glenda said...

His mercy is amazing. Thank you, Lord for the peaace only you can give.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Talk about chaos...I'm having a bit of my own at this very minute, so my thoughts are scattered at best! Peace. You know I'm all about that. I, too, have had my share of swine pods and the rotten therein. I am thankful for a grace that reaches to the prodigals and to the uttermost. There I have lived. There I have been found.

A wondrous love, and my celebration this Christmas. May He be yours also.

peace~elaine

Sita said...

Gail,
Thank you for dropping by. It really hurts and makes me angry how our Indian brothers and sisters are being persecuted and how Amrita is being persecuted as she advances God's kingdom in her area. Yet will I trust Him and pray that the Prince of Peace will come mightily to them at this time.
The compassion of Jesus shines through your note.
Do have a warm and blessed Christmas.
Love, Sita