When the world around us seems to be falling apart, it is really difficult to focus on the Christmas Promise of Joy and Peace, that Jesus’ birth signifies.
What with the world at each other’s throats, inflation making it hard put food on the table, and gas in the car, and even families divided because of the scourge of a “Woke Society,” it seems that there is not much hope for a way out of it all.
But there was a ray of Hope sent to Earth 2200 years ago.
“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light of Heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:78
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (Keep in mind that this scripture was a prophecy by Isaiah written 740 years before Jesus birth!)
Jesus thus came to earth under humble beginnings to help us change the way we think…To help us focus on His Loving Presence and His message of total unconditional Love from Him and HIs Father. He came to tell us that the evil one’s broken world is designed to distract us from His message of Love and Peace, thus keeping us away from a life of eternal Joy in His Presence.
This was Paul’s message of theGood News (In his letter to the Corinthians) and how we should change our focus away from our visible surroundings, and towards the unseen promise of eternal glory through Christ.
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So the message that came to earth on that cold winter’s night in Bethlehem, was to look steadily on Jesus’ unseen Loving Presence in our lives, despite all the distractions of our unstable visible world, and receive His Peace and Joy for eternity.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of the world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2
My Prayer For Today:
Lord, thank you for teaching me the difference between the unseen glories of Heaven and the visible temporary pleasures of this broken and fallen world I presently live in. And thank you for helping me to stay focused, more and more each passing day, on the promise of that unseen glory.
