During the Christmas holidays... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:18

During the Christmas holidays, the whole family often gathers to spend quality time together. Unfortunately, the reality does not always match up to this. According to a survey, conflicts always or occasionally arise in one in four families at Christmas time. They argue about how the holiday should be spent and how it should be organised. Hidden problems in relationships also come to the surface particularly easily on these days.

The Bible also deals with disputes in families: for example, in the families of the patriarchs of Israel. Here, the spectrum ranges from envy and resentment to the worst imaginable cases of fraud – Joseph’s brothers, the sons of Jacob, feign a fatal accident to their father, but in reality sell Joseph to slave traders in order to get rid of their hated brother (cf. Genesis 37). That they have to bear the consequences for this becomes clear as the narrative continues.

But what about us – is there peace? The Bible shows us a way to peace that has to do with the core of Christmas: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to bring peace to mankind – peace with God. This peace of God is not just a peaceful feeling that comes over us once a year, because it is based on setting right the things that cloud our relationship with God. Only when we are reconciled with God do we have peace in our hearts. And then we also have the strength to put into practice the advice of the Bible, for example, “A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention” and “Pursue peace with all people and holiness” (Proverbs 15:18; Hebrews 12:14).

Today’s reading: Zechariah 7:1-14 · Mark 13:28-37