Daily devotion

One Christmas Faith

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all. Ephesians 4:5-6 KJV

It’s the Holiday season and everywhere you look there are elves, reindeer and the big guy in the red suit. But without any desire to offend anyone I need to get this off my chest:  I hate Hallmark movies! Okay maybe not all, but how is it possible to produce dozens of Christmas themed films without having a single one about the birth of Christ? I will admit that to their credit at least Hallmark keeps things family friendly for the holidays; but then the question needs to be asked: Just what are we celebrating?

It might feel uncomfortable to insist that Christmas is only about Jesus because it runs counter to our inclusive culture. But Paul makes it crystal clear that real faith is exclusive and unique. If people choose to celebrate Christmas while leaving out Jesus they are completely missing the point. There are not a thousand different ways to get to God: there is only one. We are lost and in need of a Savior and that is why God sent His Son. The verse from the Old Christmas Carol says –

No ear may hear His coming

But in this world of sin

Where meek souls will receive Him still

The dear Christ enters in*

Oh yes there is only one Christmas faith, but the good news is that no matter who we are, what we have done, or what others think of us; if we open our hearts to receive Him; the dear Christ still enters in!

*O Little Town of Bethlehem Lewis Redner 1868

His Peace

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 KJV

Notice in today’s verse Jesus didn’t tell us to be peaceful. He also did not ask us to find peace. Instead He comes saying, “I am giving you My peace.”  So what kind of peace belongs to Jesus?

First it is a peace that has nothing at all to do with our circumstances. Jesus was telling His disciples about this peace just hours before His betrayal and arrest. How could Jesus have peace? It was because He knew where He came from and He knew where He was going. That is what He offers us.

man and boy riding bumper car

Photo by Mariana Kurnyk on Pexels.com

Secondly Jesus gives us a peace differently than the world does. The world’s peace is like what I feel when I put the payment for our car in the mail. For a short moment I feel relief, but next month a new bill always shows up in my mailbox!

Last, Jesus giving us peace that doesn’t mean the battle is over, though some days I wish it were! “Perfect submission, all is at rest.” goes the second verse of Blessed Assurance. For me that offer of peace part but  the submission part…well not so much. But all through our struggles Jesus calmly waits. He has a peace to give that will stand guard like a sentry over our hearts that once we fully  trust Him in the driver’s seat of our life, He will take the wheel and leave us His peace that will carry us through any battle!

 

 

 

Sanding Off the Rough Edges

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.               Proverbs 27:17 NKJV

Sharpening begins with a tool hard enough to wear down the imperfections that have dulled the blade of a knife. It reminds me a little of a bunk bed building project for underprivileged children where I recently spent two hours sanding 2 by 4’s. Smoothing down those scrapes and gouges reminded how God has used friends to wear off some of the roughness in my own life.

“You’re just an expert on everything!” my boss Al said sarcastically one day, as he threw up his hands in disgust. His words stung because they were true.  Because we moved a lot when I was a kid I tried being smarter or at least cool enough to be accepted by others. Without my being aware of it this left me a bit of a know-it-all until that day when Al pointed it out. As much as his words hurt, they started me on the path that I needed towards change.

P1030888

None of us much like criticism but that is the first step that God uses to sharpen us. But we hold the key to how things turn out in our hands. We can get angry and reject any kind of correction from others or we can allow God to put to take off our rough edges. Correction hurts but if we allow it, God will sharpen us and restore us to the purpose for which we are made. We have a decision to make. We can remain dull or we can allow our Father’s hand to sharpen us for His use.