Sunday, December 25, 2016

12-25-2016



Good Morning All,
      Merry Christmas!!

           Isaiah 9:6; “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
      I had a friend a few years ago who decided to run for the county commission.  I thought he would be a good candidate as he was very conscientious and knowledgeable and seemed to be calm in times of trouble.  He won the election fairly easily but the three year term he served was the most miserable time for him.  Every decision he made would rack him for days and weeks of self -doubt and worry.  The commission would meet in a morning session and it would be two days that he could not sleep.  He agonized over every single decision.  I talked to him about it one day and I asked him why he put so much stress upon himself.  He explained how he thought each decision made had such far reaching consequences.  Should we spend money to upgrade this road over that road?  What, if down the road, we upgraded the wrong road?  It would be a waste of money and an inconvenience for many people.  He thought the same about upgrading the computer equipment and other items.  He seemed to carry the weight of the entire government upon his shoulders and he crumbled beneath that weight. 
    The weight of the world can really drag you down; wondering if there is any way forward.  Worrying that decisions being made are right or wrong and what will happen next.  This weight will always keep us up at nights and cause us to worry about events that are out of our control.
    That is part of the amazing grace that is ours because of Jesus.  “And the government shall be upon his shoulder.”  It is all on Jesus.  Our righteousness before God is based on Jesus.  Our ability to stand before God in the manner we are supposed to stand is because of Jesus.  It is his coming that brings about this wonderful news.  Now we can place all our cares and worries upon Jesus.  Our future is secure and our hope guaranteed.  We are freed from the weight of guilt and the struggle of sin.  Jesus comes to give us hope, peace, joy and love.  We are freed from the snare of sin and given new life in Jesus.  This is the good news that is for all people; we no longer need to carry the burden of our sin or the weight of its guilt.  Jesus frees us from this and carries it on his shoulders all the way to Calvary.  It never has to rest on our shoulders again; we are free to live our life as it was designed, loving each other and praising God for his goodness. 
Father of all mercy, we give you thanks for the gift of life that is ours in Jesus.  We thank you for the compassion that Jesus gave so that our burden is relieved and our sins forgiven.  Lead us to ever trust in your love that we may know your peace.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret

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