Put it into Practice

Philippians 4:8&9 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians there is an interesting call to action. “Put it into practice.” Often we are given catchy slogans in our secular world and in our spiritual life. Often they end up as the “flavor of the month” because that is about how long people remember to keep the slogan in their minds and hearts. And with the list of practices Paul provides there is a word of caution. And it comes down to this simple consideration. When you put these practices into play in your life, who is being glorified? Is it God, or is it you? Seriously, think about this. Who are you seeking to call attention to by what you say or do? Because if God is not the focal point then the true meaning is being missed in what you are doing.

Possibly the best example we have of the humble servant is found in the Bible in the case of John the Baptist. While John was going about doing the work of the Lord baptizing, he was quick to acknowledge his position is the greater scheme of things. John 1:29-31 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

We must remember,“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  And in doing so we also remember who is being made praiseworthy by what we do. Not us, but the Lord that we humbly serve. To God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit go all the glory in all that we do today and every day in our lives.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You are the reason for all that we do. We seek to honor You in all that we do. Help us with Your Holy Spirit to have the faith and the heart of a servant. Guide us to share Your love, as Your Son reached out to cure the sick, heal the lame, and feed the hungry. Let our words and actions be Your words and actions. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers,  for they will be called children of God.

The Christmas truce was a series of widespread, unofficial ceasefires that took place along the Western Front around Christmas 1914, during World War I. Through the week leading up to Christmas, parties of German and British soldiers began to exchange seasonal greetings and songs between their trenches; on occasion, the tension was reduced to the point that individuals would walk across to talk to their opposite numbers bearing gifts. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, many soldiers from both sides – as well as, to a lesser degree, from French units – independently ventured into "no man's land", where they mingled, exchanging food and souvenirs. As well as joint burial ceremonies, several meetings ended in carol-singing. Troops from both sides were also friendly enough to play games of football with one another

            During the time leading up to Christmas, we often see people out shopping for Christmas presents. And at times there are tensions flaring in the aisles at our favorite stores as shoppers tussle over the last item on the sales rack or bargain bin. These disturbances are small in scale to the conditions of World War I. But they represent an opportunity nonetheless to act as a peacemaker would act. When you are confronted with a situation where there is a conflict, what is your first instinct? Chances are it is to try to win or gain the upper hand. What should really be our first instinct is to stop and as the big question of ourselves. And that question is, what would Jesus do in this situation? How would a peacemaker act? If we reflect back on the life and times of Jesus Christ from the New Testament we do not find instances where Christ was anything but loving and caring. He did air out his passion when confronted with sacrilegious activities & theologies. But not once did we see him step out of line as the Son of God. He is the Prince of Peace. When people looked at Jesus, they saw His Father.

            And when people look at you, what do they see? Do they see Jesus in your words and actions? If we profess to be Christians and claim to put on the armor of Christ, how can we act any other way than as Jesus would act? We need to not just talk the talk, we need to walk the walk. We who are loved and saved need to share the love given so abundantly to us with others we encounter. Faith without love is an empty, hollow faith.  During this Christmas Season, let the words of Phillipians 4:4&5 fill our hearts. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” When they see you and I, let them see Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord, we are too often busy doing trivial things. We are frequently caught up in our own lives and in ourselves. We forget to look around us and see through Your eyes the world we live in. Help Father to see with Your eyes. Help us to be the peacemakers and servants we need to be. Guide us in Your ways to help those You would have us help. This we ask In the name of the Jesus, Amen.

The Tears Of The Oppressed

Eccliastes 2:1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:  I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter;  power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.

At one point or another most of us have felt some form of oppression. It could be a subtle oppression or it may have been a very overt form of oppression. In any case the condition was unpleasant at the least or painful in the extreme. The interesting part of Christmas, and our theme of peace in the devotionals this week is the role Christ plays in eliminating the worst form of oppression. Christ fulfilled the law and set the captives free. We who were lost and dead in sin were freed. The bondage we lived in to sin is no more in Christ. Gone are the days of trying to earn grace or live in a manner that is free from sin. We alone just cannot do enough or live sinlessly enough to be reconciled to God our Father. Yet, before God sent His only Son to save us from ourselves, we were lost. His love in Jesus Christ is the purest form of love we can ever know. It is a love to be embraced by all who see freedom and comfort.

This freedom comes with a caution. The Apostle Paul reminds us the truth of freedom from sin in Romans 6:1&2 What shall we say, then?  Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We are those who have died to sin;  how can we live in it any longer?  We who are freed from death in sin are cautioned to not seek out sin, and to not live in it any longer.  In sin we were oppressed, in Christ we are not. Those who remain in sin, without Christ, are often without comfort. Miserable describes how they go through their life. “I am in misery” is their mantra. Yet the freedom and comfort they yearn for is so very close. Their tears can be dried, their fears put to rest and peace can reign. All they need is to embrace Christ. For some that is a step they do not know to take, for others it is a step seemingly too easy. And for others it is a step fraught with the peril of having to lose themselves. We as Christians can help by reaching out in love to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We can do this for those who do not know Christ and we can help those who have wandered off the path.  All are in need to comfort, the comfort only the Son of God can bring. We can help those who are in need the most at Christmas and throughout the whole year.

PRAYER: Father Your love for all mankind embodied in Your Son Jesus Christ is comforting. We who are undeserving have been blessed by Your gift of love and grace. Help us to stay connected with that love. Let Your Holy Spirit fill us with the faith to endure when all around us are seeking to distract us from You. Guide us to those who need to hear the good news of Christ that they too may find comfort. Let our hand and feet do Your work here on earth. We ask this in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.