Adore - the Teen Girl's Guide to AdventSample

Loving Our Enemies Produces Peace

Christmas is associated with a time of "peace and goodwill toward our fellow men." Many people think this means that we are supposed to be kinder to others around Christmastime. However, Jesus calls us to be kind to people all year round, not just during the holidays.

James 3:18 says, "Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." This verse means that making peace with others will not only produce peace within ourselves, but we will be living by the example that Jesus set.

Learning how to love others is one of the best ways we can experience peace. If we learn how to love other people, we won’t be offended by them so easily. If we aren’t offended, we will naturally have more peace within ourselves. But loving others can be tough. Jesus gets it. He was the ultimate example of love, and yet people chose to abuse, torture, and kill Him. Yet on the cross, Jesus said, “Father forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing.” Even at the very end of His life before His resurrection, Jesus chose to love those who hated Him! Now, Jesus is called our Prince of Peace.

As we move into Christmas Day, let's make sure we choose peace and goodwill toward others even after the holiday is over!