12-10-2013

Good Morning All,

    Luke 2:14; “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

    This is the time of the year when memories are truly made and cherished forever.  Some of my wife’s favorite childhood memories involve riding around town looking at Christmas lights.  There were years when she had to keep scraping the window to keep the frost off in order to see out.  The other thing that she always speaks of was when her father would start singing along with Yogi Yorgesson and “I Yust go Nuts at Christmas” (a TRUE classic) especially the part towards the end;           

                                      Back in the corner the radios playing

                                     And over the racket Gabriel Heater is saying

                                    Peace on earth everybody and good will towards men

                                   And yust at that moment someone slugs Uncle Ben

Some special memories for sure.

    “Peace on earth” is a very common expression at Christmas time.  There are lots of Christmas cards with that saying on it.  So why is it, that as often as not, “someone does slug Uncle Ben” at our family Christmases?  If we can’t have peace in the family, how can we have peace on earth?

    One of the biggest misconceptions of this verse is that there will be peace on earth between men.  That really isn’t what this means.  It means that people on who God’s favor rests, that is those who are redeemed, will have peace with God.  This peace with God means that God is no longer our enemy because of our sin.  Rather, we have peace with God because God has torn down the wall of enmity which we had built between us.  God has made peace with us.

    So now that we have peace with God, we know that the Creator of the Universe is at peace with us.  He sent his Son to die and pay for our sins.  We have peace with God and with that we can share it with others.  We can share God’s peace with those around us.  We do this the same way that God does with us, by forgiving sins committed against us.  Forgiveness and peace go hand in hand.  When we forgive, we can have peace with others.  When we forgive, we can have peace on earth.

Father of grace, your mercies are new to us each day and they roll over us like a river.  Through your mercy we have peace with you.  We have been renewed and restored into your holy kingdom.  Grant us the ability to live in peace with our fellow man seeing in him the reflection of your grace.  Help us to reach out to those who are struggling with hatred and dissension, especially within their family.  Give them your Spirit of hope and peace that they may know your true peace.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret