Advent Devotions
Second Week of Advent 2025
This week we light a candle for peace. What does this peace mean? Shalom, peace, encompasses wholeness and healing in body, mind, Spirit and relationships. It includes inner tranquility, resting in God's love. It includes peace from war but also peace in all relationships including peace in our relationship with God. It is the power of God's living, loving Presence through the Holy Spirit in us that enables us to have this peace and to spread this peace to others. As you read these passages and sing these songs notice how God gives us peace. In what ways does this show us how we can bring peace to others?
Colossians 1:15-20
15 [Jesus]is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-all things have been created through him and for him. 17 [Jesus] himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to Godself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Romans 5:1-11
5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. 9 Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of [God's] Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
Matthew 5:9
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Philippians 4:5-7
5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
James 3:17-18
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness[e] is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Luke 1:74-79
74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,might serve [God]without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness in [God's] presence all our days.76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare [God's] ways,77 to give [God's] people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Music
Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love - Lyric Video
He came down that we might have love - YouTube
O God of Love, O King of Peace - ELW 749
Let There Be Peace on Earth | Choir and Piano with Lyrics | Song for World Peace | Christian Hymn
When Our Song Says Peace ELW 709
O Day of Peace (Jerusalem) - CCS 380 - The Beyond the Walls Choir
