Today’s Readings
Context
There is nothing about the story of Christ's coming that is an accident. Every detail is symbolic of a key theme in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
The good news is that after 400 years of darkness and silence, God spoke and he spoke loudly through Jesus Christ.
- The angels came in the darkness to shine the light - Jesus is the light of the world, shining God's light into the darkness of sin.
- Jesus came as an ordinary man, not a king or a priest or a man of power and influence - the kingdom has always been built on ordinary people who did extraordinary things by the power of God alone.
- God announced his message to shepherds and foreigners (Magi).
- As has always been the case, two primary groups were the enemies of Jesus from the early days of his life. There were religious people who ignored him, and later felt threatened by him and put him to death. There were the political powers (Herod) who fought him rather than bow to him as king.
The good news is that after 400 years of darkness and silence, God spoke and he spoke loudly through Jesus Christ.
Devotional - Peace, Good Will to Men
We love to play the "pick and choose" game when we come to the scriptures. We take those parts of the Bible that we like, that give us warm fuzzies and make us feel good, and we ignore the hard parts. We take the "My God will supply all your needs" while ignoring the context of that verse - that it was given to those who gave generously and sacrificially. We sometimes want God's blessings without the sacrifices and service that God demands.
The Christmas story, because of its familiarity and because it has been coopted by the entire society, is particularly prone to this. There is much meat in the Christmas story, but all many people have heard is "Peace, Good will to men." We are supposed to go around during the yuletide (whatever that is) season with a smile and joy in our hearts and love for our fellow man.
But Luke 1:14 is much more involved that our holiday greetings would lead us to believe. It says,
We would all like peace and good will on earth. Politicians give us empty promises that they will deliver it. Movements rise and fall bringing hope to the world. But there is only one hope for the world. The baby born in Bethlehem, the light in the darkness, the long-awaited Messiah - promised by the prophets, ignored by the people and their leaders, attacked by the powerful Herod, worshiped and adored only by shepherds and later by Magi from the east - he is the only hope of the world. Peace will only come when he rules. Peace will come in your heart when he rules it. Peace will come in your family when your family is ruled by Jesus. Peace will only rule the church ruled by Jesus. And this world's incessant search for peace will only be satisfied when the trumpet sounds and the Prince of Peace descends.
Peace comes on those who through faith in Christ find a righteousness that the law could never bring and, being reconciled to God, live their lives under his favor and his pleasure.
But there is one more key point to be remembered here. Before there can be peace on earth there must be glory to God. As long as you live for yourself or for anything else in this world, there will never be peace on earth. Only those who give themselves over to the glory of God can experience peace and the pleasure of God.
The Christmas story, because of its familiarity and because it has been coopted by the entire society, is particularly prone to this. There is much meat in the Christmas story, but all many people have heard is "Peace, Good will to men." We are supposed to go around during the yuletide (whatever that is) season with a smile and joy in our hearts and love for our fellow man.
But Luke 1:14 is much more involved that our holiday greetings would lead us to believe. It says,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!First, we must acknowledge that the King James Version badly translated this passage, It is not a general wish of good will to all mankind, but a specific blessing to those on whom God's good will rests. Who is that? We know from the rest of scripture that it is those who believe on the baby who was born that day, those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.
We would all like peace and good will on earth. Politicians give us empty promises that they will deliver it. Movements rise and fall bringing hope to the world. But there is only one hope for the world. The baby born in Bethlehem, the light in the darkness, the long-awaited Messiah - promised by the prophets, ignored by the people and their leaders, attacked by the powerful Herod, worshiped and adored only by shepherds and later by Magi from the east - he is the only hope of the world. Peace will only come when he rules. Peace will come in your heart when he rules it. Peace will come in your family when your family is ruled by Jesus. Peace will only rule the church ruled by Jesus. And this world's incessant search for peace will only be satisfied when the trumpet sounds and the Prince of Peace descends.
Peace comes on those who through faith in Christ find a righteousness that the law could never bring and, being reconciled to God, live their lives under his favor and his pleasure.
But there is one more key point to be remembered here. Before there can be peace on earth there must be glory to God. As long as you live for yourself or for anything else in this world, there will never be peace on earth. Only those who give themselves over to the glory of God can experience peace and the pleasure of God.
Father, I thank you that peace is possible in this hectic world through Jesus Christ. May I live my life for your glory every day
Think and Pray
Do you live your life for the glory of God?
Is your life lived under the pleasure of God because of Christ?
Is your life lived under the pleasure of God because of Christ?
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