As I was thinking about the blog for this week, I did not know what I wanted to write about. So over the week, I thought about many different things I could write about and share with you. Then as I was thinking today it came to me. The title was the thought that was in my mind and as I pondered it clarity came as to what to write about this week in the blog.
We all know that this is the Christmas season. Whether a person is a Christian or not they know and in their way will celebrate the season. If you are a Christian, then you know that "Jesus is the reason for the season". Elaine just bought a new sign for our front yard with that very statement and made sure I lit it properly for all to see.
So you would think the time of year would help what people might do or even say. I can say that it has not helped at all with some people. That is a sad statement of where society is today. There is so much to celebrate this wonderful season of Christmas. Yet there are those who unfortunately cannot allow themselves to see or think beyond a lost mind and heart.
A person who through our legal system may well be found quilty of premeditated murder is for some a hero. An actual hero is degraded, threatened even after being found unanimously innocent of the charges by a jury of his peers.
We are in a sad state of affairs and it is hard to fine goodness or even peace in this world. The world says it wants peace yet the world looks to itself for that peace. Elaine’s Bible Study group, at the church where I am the interim pastor, are studying about the Advent during the weeks leading up to Christmas. This week they studied peace.
The world is looking for peace and attempts to accomplish this peace yet the heart of man wants what it wants. Peace is not what they want, it is control. Peace and control are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
True peace is control lost in order to experience God and the peace which only He can bring to fruition in our lives. We all know that the Bible talks about peace and Paul said in Philippians 4:7 that-
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This is true but it is conditional on what he said in verse 6-
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
We begin by not allowing ourselves to become anxious. You may be someone who struggles with anxiety. Maybe not everything but some things make you anxious. Merriman-Webster says being anxious is characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency.
There will be for any and all people times when they become anxious about something. As a Christian, we have a way in which we can handle that situation. Stop and pray, thanking God that He can and will take us through whatever we are facing.
Now this is not easy or simple because you might be saying right now, “Pastor you don’t know what I am facing or dealing with” and you are right I don’t. In John 14:27 Jesus said-
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The world’s idea of peace is things going well, a peaceful feeling; but when things go wrong, that peace quickly goes away. In 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul has recounted much of what he had been through and he concluded by saying-
12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
We may struggle with something and find peace when the Lord changes that circumstance. We also find peace if that struggle does not result in a changed circumstance. Paul again in writing to the church in Rome says in Romans 8:28-
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose
Sometimes things go well and at other times things don’t go well. That is true for the Christian and the lost person. Sadly there are many who will not ever know the peace we do as Christians. They have made up their minds and we cannot confuse them with the fact that Jesus Himself said as found in John 3:16-17 NKJV-
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
This Christmas season take every opportunity to wish all a very Merry Christmas. Let them see in you that Jesus is the reason for the season.
In God’s Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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