The Gift Of Peace

Sunday, ‎December ‎18, ‎2022

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Matthew 1:20-21

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Memory verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Readings: OBADIAH 1 REVELATION 9

The Gift Of Peace

From Now until Christmas day is 9 days. I am attempting to look at each of the nine fruit of the Spirit as gifts,

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

They will not be the order in which they appear in scripture. The first we discuss is 'peace'.

When many of us 'silver sheep' were but children at the old schoolhouse in the elementary age, Christmas rolled around with a feeling of some excitement. There were always a few of the children who were always rather quiet. The children who had a comfortable home with enough to eat and employed parents did not know they weren't millionaires. They knew they had plenty. Some of the quiet children, I would learn, were quiet because they had very little at home.

Some were the children of single-parent homes and had little. Some were from transient workers or transient unemployed with little to expect. They wore hand-me-downs and sometimes had not bathed in a while. They were the ones who drank water, if anything(a half-pint of milk was 3 cents) with their lunches. Some children were sweet to them and some were not.

I recall one small girl that I would not see smile but once that year. Our local Lions Club would bring a Christmas gift to all the children in grades 1-6(no kindergarten in those days). It was a brown-paper sack with an orange, an apple, and a peppermint candy cane. I saw the small girl smile with glee as she grasped her sack. She looked into it and then closed it up with a peaceful look on her face. When the teacher asked her why she was not consuming the contents, the child said faintly, "I'm taking it home to Mamma for a Christmas present..."

The look of peace on the girl's face-why was it peace and not excitement?

John 14:27 “I leave you peace. My peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled. Don’t be afraid.

The child probably did not even know, but she was experiencing peace from the heart of God. Her heart was no longer troubled because she had something to give her mother. The fear of having nothing to give was gone.

James 1:17

International Children’s Bible

17 Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars. God does not change like their moving shadows.

This time is so fraught with anxiety. "Can I afford the right thing for all my family? What do I do when the credit card statements come in January?

Be still before God-reach for Him-reach for His perfect peace...that cannot be explained.

Philippians 4:7-9

International Children’s Bible

7 And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.

Fully trusting is perfect peace.

Peace on earth...good will...

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me my anxiety and selfishness. May we all remember the lonely and poor. I believe You will fill all my needs in Christ Jesus*.

My Boundless God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen

* Philippians 4:19

International Children’s Bible

19 My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.