Weekly WorkPlace Wisdom - Week 3 - The Purpose of Christmas

Week 3 - The Purpose of Christmas
 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  Luke 2:14 (KJV)
 

The third purpose of Christmas is reconciliation. 
 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.and he will be called Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)
 

Reconciliation occurs when that which is broken between people is repaired. Reconciliation is something people cannot do. What do we mean by that?
 

We can not mend our broken relationships in our own power and with our own abilities.  Broken relationships cause waves of bitterness, envy, resentment and anger to crash against the shoreline of our hearts with relentless regularity.  We try to will it to stop, but the waves keep on coming.  We tell ourselves we forgive them for what they did-but the offense replays in our mind like a familiar movie we didn't like much the first time around either.
 

Until we have reconciliation we will not have peace.  But if we cannot will or force reconciliation to happen, what can we do?
 

Jesus Christ, our Prince of Peace, offers to you and me his peace, directly from the royal treasury.
 

 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)
 

There are three characteristics of God's peace, and for true reconciliation to occur, we need them all:
 

1. Peace with God is spiritual peace
   Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Romans 5:1 TEV)
    

Peace with God means we no longer need to walk around feeling condemned.  We may do wrong because we are sinners and therefore incapable of being perfect, but we know how to make it right with God. We don't make peace with God by doing good things, but rather the Bible says it is by faith in God's grace where we will find peace with God.
 

2. The peace of God is emotional peace
   Pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)
    

In John 16, Jesus is talking to his disciples about matters of great importance and, in verse 33, addresses the fact that life brings difficulties.  He did not say that all troubles would be for his purpose or that everything would always turn out as we think it should. Jesus did say that in the midst of life's trials and challenges he offers his peace to navigate the storms of life. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world. (NIV)
 

3. Peace with others is relational peace.
   Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9 KJV)
    

Once we make peace with God we can then be filled with the peace of God.  Now we are ready to mend those broken relationships.  Jesus took the responsibility to reconcile us back to God.  He did not wait for us to do our part nor are we expected to do any of the work to be reconciled to God - only to accept and receive the reconciliation. 
 

Someone has to take the first step to mend a broken relationship.  What broken relationship needs reconciliation in your life?
 

Will you risk loving like Jesus did and take the responsibility to mend those relationships?

Until next week...

Discussion Questions:
 

1. Jesus offers his peace to you.  What do you need most-peace with God; peace of God; or peace with others? 
    
2. In the storms of your life, will you pray or panic? 
    
3. Jesus Christ is God's Christmas gift to you.  Have you opened that gift and made peace with God?  If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NIV)