By Pastor Greg...
There's a story that has become legend in a small southern Minnesota town. I can't vouch for its truth, only that people tell it as though it really happened.
It seems that a man who was retiring from his position as mayor was to be honored at a party. He had served for more than a decade and had been responsible for several significant improvements to the area, and so it seemed good to have the community pay him tribute.
The party was held at the VFW hall west of town, and all agreed it was a great celebration. The music was loud, the room crowded and noisy; food and drinks were available until late into the evening. It was a great celebration.
At the Main Street diner, the following morning, people talked about what a wonderful event it had been… a fitting tribute. Some wondered if the mayor had enjoyed it, but no one seemed to know. In fact, no remembered talking to him or had even seen him there. And after asking around, they learned that he had checked into a hospital the previous day and had missed the party in his honor. It seems no one had noticed.
The parallel to our modern celebration of Christmas is all too obvious. People come together, the food is great, the music warms the heart, but where is the “peace on earth and good will toward men?” I suspect it’s because we’ve forgotten the guest of honor. The season has become about us. Sadly, we have lost perspective.
A great deal is said during Christmas about the announcement made by the angels. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors”[1] (Luke 2:14). But in today’s world we see very little peace, very little at all. Why is there so little peace in this world especially during a season that promotes peace? Maybe it’s because the world is so wrapped up in the celebration that it has forgotten the guest of honor.
The arrival of the Messiah was to usher in a new season of peace for the people of Israel. Through the Prophet Zephaniah, the Lord says, (Zephaniah 3:14-20) 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. 16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” 18 “I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more. 19 And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed. 20 On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the Lord, have spoken!” [2]
This is an incredible promise God made to the people of Jerusalem. Despite the mocking’s, the persecution, and the hatred Israel had been receiving from the world, a time was coming when God would restore the nation to its former glory. It will happen when the Lord finally lives among them. God will save the weak and the helpless. He will calm their fears. He, the Lord, will sing their praises.
Okay, sure; I know this prophecy looks forward to a distant time; these things will happen when Jesus comes again. I get that; Jesus will come and establish His earthly rule and usher in a thousand years of peace. But there is a deeper truth in these prophecies that we often overlook. And that is, the work Jesus does in our hearts.
As I stated last week, the main reason Jesus came was to make us holy. He came to give His life as a ransom to set us free; because of His life and death, we are no longer held captive by sin and death (Romans 8:2). Jesus has given us this victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). And, here is the really interesting part, because of Jesus our hearts are transformed.
Through the Prophet Ezekiel, God says, “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart”[3] (Ezekiel 36:26). And this happens because of Jesus.
When Jesus comes again, there will be incredible peace on earth. But in the meantime, there is an opportunity for there to be peace in us. However, this will only happen if we remember to turn our focus toward Jesus. He does not force this inward peace upon us. Rather, He offers it freely; it’s up to us to respond accordingly and allow Jesus to do His mysterious work within to transform a hard, stubborn heart into one that genuinely loves and cares for others.
A wise woman once told me that if there is turmoil in our homes, there is probably turmoil in our hearts. And if we want peace in our homes then we need to have peace in our hearts. I suspect the same could be said about our world. Sure, there can be peace, but that peace begins in hearts that are truly focused on Jesus. If we want peace in our world today, then it begins by focusing on Jesus.
Where there is no Jesus, there is no peace. But, to know Jesus is to know peace.
May we never forget the Guest of honor during our Christmas celebrations this year.
It seems that a man who was retiring from his position as mayor was to be honored at a party. He had served for more than a decade and had been responsible for several significant improvements to the area, and so it seemed good to have the community pay him tribute.
The party was held at the VFW hall west of town, and all agreed it was a great celebration. The music was loud, the room crowded and noisy; food and drinks were available until late into the evening. It was a great celebration.
At the Main Street diner, the following morning, people talked about what a wonderful event it had been… a fitting tribute. Some wondered if the mayor had enjoyed it, but no one seemed to know. In fact, no remembered talking to him or had even seen him there. And after asking around, they learned that he had checked into a hospital the previous day and had missed the party in his honor. It seems no one had noticed.
The parallel to our modern celebration of Christmas is all too obvious. People come together, the food is great, the music warms the heart, but where is the “peace on earth and good will toward men?” I suspect it’s because we’ve forgotten the guest of honor. The season has become about us. Sadly, we have lost perspective.
A great deal is said during Christmas about the announcement made by the angels. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors”[1] (Luke 2:14). But in today’s world we see very little peace, very little at all. Why is there so little peace in this world especially during a season that promotes peace? Maybe it’s because the world is so wrapped up in the celebration that it has forgotten the guest of honor.
The arrival of the Messiah was to usher in a new season of peace for the people of Israel. Through the Prophet Zephaniah, the Lord says, (Zephaniah 3:14-20) 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. 16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” 18 “I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more. 19 And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed. 20 On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the Lord, have spoken!” [2]
This is an incredible promise God made to the people of Jerusalem. Despite the mocking’s, the persecution, and the hatred Israel had been receiving from the world, a time was coming when God would restore the nation to its former glory. It will happen when the Lord finally lives among them. God will save the weak and the helpless. He will calm their fears. He, the Lord, will sing their praises.
Okay, sure; I know this prophecy looks forward to a distant time; these things will happen when Jesus comes again. I get that; Jesus will come and establish His earthly rule and usher in a thousand years of peace. But there is a deeper truth in these prophecies that we often overlook. And that is, the work Jesus does in our hearts.
As I stated last week, the main reason Jesus came was to make us holy. He came to give His life as a ransom to set us free; because of His life and death, we are no longer held captive by sin and death (Romans 8:2). Jesus has given us this victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). And, here is the really interesting part, because of Jesus our hearts are transformed.
Through the Prophet Ezekiel, God says, “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart”[3] (Ezekiel 36:26). And this happens because of Jesus.
When Jesus comes again, there will be incredible peace on earth. But in the meantime, there is an opportunity for there to be peace in us. However, this will only happen if we remember to turn our focus toward Jesus. He does not force this inward peace upon us. Rather, He offers it freely; it’s up to us to respond accordingly and allow Jesus to do His mysterious work within to transform a hard, stubborn heart into one that genuinely loves and cares for others.
A wise woman once told me that if there is turmoil in our homes, there is probably turmoil in our hearts. And if we want peace in our homes then we need to have peace in our hearts. I suspect the same could be said about our world. Sure, there can be peace, but that peace begins in hearts that are truly focused on Jesus. If we want peace in our world today, then it begins by focusing on Jesus.
Where there is no Jesus, there is no peace. But, to know Jesus is to know peace.
May we never forget the Guest of honor during our Christmas celebrations this year.
[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard
version. (2009). (Lk 2:14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Tyndale House
Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation
(Zep 3:14–20). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[3]
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation
(Eze 36:26). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
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