Prince of Peace 2

Matthew 2:1-6

The newspaper in our hometown held a “Secret Santa” contest. The idea was that a small Santa figurine was hidden somewhere within the city limits and daily clues in the paper helped you figure out where it might be. The person who found the tiny Santa figure could redeem it for the cash prize.

The contest was slow to start, but soon it seemed that everyone was looking for that little Santa figure. It was what people talked about, and it got people going all over the town to try to find it.

This passage from Matthew is a familiar story of the visit from the wise men. These men who are so often portrayed as kings may have been astronomers or learned scholars, or they may indeed have been wealthy and powerful leaders. Their own background is of less importance than what they did.

These men apparently had a great deal of means at their disposal. Their gifts were valuable. They were given an audience with King Herod. They had the money to travel a great distance. All these are indicators that these Magi had wealth and influence.

But part of the wisdom of these wise men was the wisdom to know that one greater than themselves had been born. Indeed, one who was greater than any king on earth had arrived, and they recognized the importance of this birth. They knew that the child born was the greatest king, and this is the reason they traveled so far simply to offer praise to Jesus.

They were willing to make a lengthy journey. They were willing to bring expensive gifts to honor the new king. They were willing to seek guidance and direction on how to find this king. It was all worth the effort, to lay eyes on the baby Jesus, Son of the Lord Most High.

We must not allow ourselves to get caught up in the celebration and gift-giving of the season. We should not allow the cost and number of gifts, the business of entertaining, or the traditions of Christmas to keep us from having a clear vision of why we are celebrating Christmas. We should be willing to put effort into finding the heart of the Christmas story, the centerpiece of the holidays. We should be willing to lay our own gifts before this Prince of Peace we honor.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you keep Christ in the center of your Christmas?

Prince of Peace 1

Luke 2:8-14

In the ministry there are times when the holidays are less than joyous occasions. The holidays often can mean more work, extra services, extra activities that make a full work schedule overflow with activity. And this kind of stress is not limited to people in the ministry. There are times when the extra expense and worry of holiday activities can feel like too much to deal with. Sometimes it seems easier and better to go through the monotony of the every-day, average work week.

The shepherds in this story quite possibly were the kind of people who wanted to be left alone. It is possible that they wanted to simply do their work – watch the sheep – and be at peace. But instead on that night so long ago an angel broke the silence of the night and interrupted the ordinary with extraordinary news.

These shepherds, average workers just doing their jobs, were presented with an incredible message, good news of great joy. They were among the first to hear that God had presented the world with a gift of tremendous love.

Not far from where they were a baby had been born. And that baby was Jesus Christ, God in human form. And he was the Savior to all people. Then the angels explained in their song what it all meant. There would be peace for those on whom God’s favor rested.

This was worth the interruption. This was worth having the comfortable and ordinary disrupted because the interruption was a great and glorious message. The Prince of Peace had been born. God’s peace, the peace that comes from knowing that we are loved by God, that we are forgiven by God, had come to earth.

In the hurry and worry of the holidays, in the extra work and the busy activities, we need to recognize the importance of what we are celebrating. It is more than extra work for us. Christmas is a celebration of the fantastic news, the good and glorious news, that God offers peace to those who will accept Christ as Savior.

When we feel overwhelmed by the holidays, when we feel worn out by all that needs to be done, let us find the time to know in our hearts that the true peace of God has been given to each of us. And let us find comfort and gladness in knowing that we have that peace, that it has been given as a gift to all.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be reminded of God’s peace this holiday season?

Everlasting Father 5

Luke 2:1-7

I have been learning a lesson these past few weeks. I have learned that I need to be faithful to God no matter what happens in the world. In spite of financial worries, in spite of fears for our economy, in spite of the frustration we have experienced with our 10-2 Grow e-mails, in spite of the depression that threatens when area teens and people I have known die unexpectedly – and so close to the holidays – still I must trust in God and obey His commands. I must be faithful to my heavenly Father no matter what.

I must be faithful because my heavenly, everlasting Father is faithful to me.

It is interesting that the Christmas story that we are so familiar with, that we have seen acted out by young and old alike in our churches, is presented only in Matthew and in Luke. It is in Matthew that we see the dilemma that Joseph faced, the fears of his impending marriage to a woman who is pregnant. In Matthew we see the angel visiting Joseph, giving guidance and reassurance.

In Luke the focus is on Mary. In Luke Mary is visited by the angel. In Luke Mary’s cousin Elizabeth is also pregnant.

The first real encounter we have with Joseph in the Book of Luke is in this passage, the beginning of the second chapter. We are presented with the reasons that Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem and why the baby was placed in a manger. We see the genealogical connection to the house and line of David.

But to me, the key verse is verse 5. “He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

Joseph carried through with his duties, his responsibilities, his obligations. He registered along with the woman to whom he was not yet married and who was with child. If we do not read Matthew’s story then we would have no idea that angels had guided Joseph.

But in this simple statement we see Joseph being faithful. His bride to be is already with child, yet he registers with her and marries her. He carries through with his pledge regardless of what was happening, in spite of the pregnancy and the strain of the census. He was acting as a faithful and loving father.

And this can be a reminder to us all that our heavenly Father is faithful and loving. This can be a reminder to us that the baby Joseph raised is also the everlasting Father to each of us. He gives us love, and he is eternally faithful.

Let us follow the examples of Joseph and Jesus. Let us be faithful too. And let us never forget the love of our everlasting Father, Jesus.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How does the everlasting Father show you His faithfulness?

Everlasting Father 4

Isaiah 11:1-2

Members of one of our adult Sunday school classes invited us to join them on a tour of a nearby courthouse. The courthouse was built in the 1920s with an open, three-storied central stairwell complete with a dome of stained glass. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and gold leaf decorations. But over time this amazing building began to show signs of age.

Then our guide explained how they had recently renovated the courthouse, restoring it to its original beauty after the years had taken their toll on the building. The beauty that had faded was restored, the incredible splendor of the work was brought back.

This prophecy from Isaiah is a prediction of hope and joy for the Israelites. The family line of their greatest kings would be restored, the former glory brought back. In fact the past glory would be exceeded. Who is Jesse? What will the Messiah be blessed with?

The part that Jesse plays in the history of Israel begins in 1 Samuel 16. This is the story of Jesse’s son, David, being selected to be king. And David will grow to be one of the greatest kings ever. We then learn in the genealogy presented in Matthew 1:1-16 that Jesus is a descendent of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jesse, of David, and so on.

This prophecy is a message of restoration. This great line of leaders will again bring forth another great king, Jesus Christ. Jesus will be born and will be the everlasting Father, the Son of the Most High. And through this lineage we see the eternal nature of God.

God has blessed His children from the beginning, from the time of Abraham, down through the centuries. And His blessings continue with Christ. In fact, the blessings will exceed the past blessings.

The celebration of Christmas is a celebration of the everlasting love that God, the Father, has for all who believe in Him. It is an eternal love that stretches back over the centuries and also covers the days to come.

The baby born in Bethlehem is our eternal Father, the very image of God. He is an expression of love that transcends all time, that existed in the past, exists now, and will be with us forever.

Let us be reminded this holiday season of the eternal love that God has for us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can God restore you with His love this Christmas?

Everlasting Father 3

John 1:15-18

My wife sent an embarrassing picture of me to my sister, who in turn sent it on to other family members. Eventually we got a response from a cousin whom I haven’t seen in years. She commented that I look like my father.

My father passed away 25 years ago, but if someone wanted to know what he looked like they need simply see me to know. If they wanted to know what kind of personality he had they could simply point to me. I am a reflection of who my father was.

We are children of our heavenly Father, but no one has seen God, the Father. We do not know if He is the familiar image of an old man with a flowing beard, or if He appears as a pillar of fire, or if He is whatever He needs to be in appearance.

But we have seen Jesus. We are familiar with the personality of Christ. We know what he valued. We know how he felt about most things. We know how much he cares about us.

John the Baptist was aware of the coming of Jesus, God in the flesh. What does John say about him? What goodness have we received? What has Jesus done?

God gave Himself as a gift in the gift of Jesus to the world. Christ is God in human form. He is God. As John describes him, Jesus is “God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side.”

Christmas is the celebration of God giving Himself to us so that we might know Him. He gave the gift of Christ as an expression of His love and grace for all mankind.

Jesus, in his love for us and in his teachings, has shown us who God is. Jesus has made God known. He has taught us the love that the eternal Father has for each of us. And Christ himself is the everlasting Father who cares for us and blesses us with his grace.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What part of Christmas reminds you of God’s eternal love?