Daily Devotionals

In or Out Week 4 Saturday

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:13-14

If you could have one thing in this life, what would you wish for? Some would say wealth, pleasure, or success, but how many of us would pick peace? Peace is so important. It ends conflicts between people and nations who have been at war. Internally, when people have peace, they don’t have to live a frenzied or fearful life. They can live at peace with God, knowing that He loves them and has a plan for their life and that because of His peace, we don’t have to live in fear. 

The shepherds were given a message of peace. These lowly and dirty shepherds had the opportunity to see the heavens open wide and filled with angels. It would have been incredible. Equally incredible would be what the angels had to say. In this moment, they first bring glory to God. Then, they give us a picture of what matters most in this life and their highest mission, which was to honor God. After that, they remind the people that God loves them and wants to bring peace. Think about this for a second. There was an army of angels up in the sky. They could have come to destroy the Roman government. They could have come to wipe out every enemy that stood in the Jewish people’s way. Instead, the army comes as a choir to announce peace.

In the same way that the angels announced peace on earth, we have to see that the mission of Jesus was to bring peace to humanity. He was making a way for us to have peace with God. We can know God and have a relationship with the God of the universe. We can talk with Him and connect with Him. One day, we will have the opportunity to be in Heaven with Him forever. Jesus gives all of us peace within. 

On this Christmas day, we hope you will be reminded of the peace that God offers each one of us. So don’t be frantic or chaotic on this day. Instead, embrace the peace that was given when God gave the precious gift of Jesus. Merry Christmas, friends! May you relish in the peace that comes because of a baby who was born so many years ago, Jesus, the Savior of the world!

Moving Toward Action

Make the most of your time with your family today. Instead of being unfocused, choose to be a beacon of God’s peace. You only get Christmas Day once every year, so embrace this moment. Make memories with your family and friends while celebrating Jesus’ birthday. You may want to take some time to read the passage together with your family and friends to remember the Christmas story.

Going Deeper

Luke 2:1-20 (NLT)

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.