{"id":29382,"date":"2020-12-16T03:30:23","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T11:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=29382"},"modified":"2020-12-15T13:25:16","modified_gmt":"2020-12-15T21:25:16","slug":"december-16-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2020\/12\/16\/december-16-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"December 16, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cGlory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.\u201d <\/em>Luke 2:14 NIV<\/p>\n

Christmas Peace<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In this present world of unrest, what will Christmas look like this 2020? What will 2021 bring? I was thinking of the world Christ was born into, also a world of unrest, violence, persecution and spiritual darkness. God had not spoken to them for 400 years, and they were under the oppressive rule of Rome. Roman guards were present to police the city of David.<\/p>\n

Yet Luke 2:11-14 clearly spells it out for us:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019For unto you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.\u2019\u00a0 Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, \u2018Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased\u2019\u201d <\/em>(Luke 2:11-14 NLT).<\/p>\n

I hit the rewind button of my mind, and reflected on Mary\u2019s encounter with the angel Gabriel, who told her all that was going to take place because God highly regarded her. Her response amazes me: \u201cMay it be to me as you have said. I am the Lord\u2019s handmaiden\u201d <\/em>(Luke 1:38).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Would I have said that? Would I have the peace to walk without fear into the unknown? What kind of faith in God does it take to say \u201cyes\u201d in pure obedience? I imagined my own response: \u201cWhat would people think? Will my parents believe me? Will my betrothed believe me? How could I go out in public? They will think badly of me. No, I am too reputation-conscious. I\u2019m sure you can find someone better than me who can do this.\u201d Breaks my heart to think what a faithless doubter I may have been to even consider turning down God, creator of the universe, to have the privilege to carry His only Son.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>This was a life-changer for Mary. The only information Mary had to go on was that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and overshadow her. She put feet on her faith, and took that first step into obedience and had courage to face whatever angel Gabriel\u2019s message would bring, and she had peace. She believed the words of Isaiah 26:3: \u201cYou will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPeace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. \u00a0Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid\u201d <\/em>(John 14:27).<\/p>\n

Thank You, Jesus, for Your peace. Strengthen our faith to \u201cnot let\u201d our hearts be troubled but to trust in You completely and enjoy peace.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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