Peace....I do not believe that most people understand this word in relation to Jesus. This Sunday we are looking at the gift of peace that God offers to each of us. The situation was this....God and man were together in a close relationship...they walked and talked together it says in the Bible....then man sinned and were separated from the tree of life. Death came into their world and a separation between God and man came into existence. The Holy all powerful God on one side and sinful man on the other side....no longer in the relationship man was created for with God. Something needed to be done....A bridge builder...between God and man....the God-man Jesus. Peace was established....not on that one night in Bethlehem but on that afternoon just outside of Jerusalem and three days later when at the open grave. Peace was established between God and man...we now have a gift of peace offered to each of us...just like hope, love and joy.....but the question is....will you accept and use the gifts? A git from God is a terrible thing to waste...why don't you talk to God and accept his offer of hope, love, joy and peace this Christmas.
Peace, among other things, is the ability to be calm when circumstances around you are in a whirlwind.
Today I attended a funeral of a Friends' Mother and Brother who died in a house fire last week. My friend gave the Eulogys and did a wonderful job. It is the first time I felt inspired to applaud at the conclusion of the two recaps of the lives of those he loved. I didn't but I should have...it was awesome. I saw Peace in the presence of conflict, I witnessed Joy in the presence of Sorrow, I observed Hope in the presence of despair, I heard Love in the presence of death. Today I witnessed a man of God show the world that he has received the gifts of Christmas from His heavenly Father and nothing...not even family deaths....will take that away because He has given his life to the giver of the gifts. Why not you? Today if you humble yourself and invite Jesus to forgive you and surrender your life to Him, the gifts will come...just as surely as Christmas.
Blessings my brother Fred...I applaud your faith, your courage, your joy, your hope, and your love for God and others.
Pastor Brian