Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. Gal 1:3-4

I pray that you had a wonderful day of worship with your local church as you gathered with the saints on the Lord’s Day. Every day we encounter people with our lives. Some encounters are through personal interactions, others may be thoughts and memories. Some encounters are easy while other are difficult and demanding. Yet each encounter is an opportunity to grow in grace and peace with the Father. The scripture passage is a common greeting and reminder used by the Apostle Paul in his letters to the early churches. He was adamant about the grace and peace of God that was for every Christian to live the fullness of Jesus Christ that glorifies the Father. The Christian life is not free of troubles nor a bed of roses. There is constant friction with the world whose focus is on the present age, the pursuit of gain and its pleasures. These things appeal to all of us and trouble our affections with desires and aspirations for greater gain. For this conflict and constant trouble, Jesus came and “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world.” He came that all who believe in Him “might have life, and…have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). The life that Jesus gives is “grace…and peace from God the Father.” The world is filled of deceptions for peace, but peace, real peace is by the grace of God. Grace is God’s good-will towards us and His good work upon us. In scripture, grace always proceeds peace and you can never know the peace of God until you have received the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear friend, you can’t rest in His peace until you are wrapped in His grace. There is no harmony with God, no wholeness with Him until the God-sized hole in your heart is filled by the grace of God “from our Lord Jesus Christ.” Grace allows us to have peace with God, others, and ourselves. That is Christmas. That is “Emmanuel…God with us” (Mt 1:23). The Prince of Peace came unto the world, born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life, and “gave Himself for our sins” that all who believe in Him might receive the grace of God that brings peace and life eternal. My friend, are you living by God’s grace for you? Do you have the peace with God? Will those who encounter you today, hear the Spirit say “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is the “will of God and our Father” to tell the Good News of His love wherever we go. Father, thank You for Your love and the grace to know Your peace. Help me to walk in Your grace and share Your peace with others. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Ps 46:10

The Christmas season is a busy time with decorating, shopping, gathering with friends, end of year celebrations, travel, and vacation planning. It can be a busy time, even for churches that are preparing and practicing for Christmas programs, caroling, and seasonal visitations. Though these things may take us beyond the daily grind to focus on those around us, it is easy to go through the Christmas season and miss out on its true meaning. Time with God. Christmas is about “God with us” (Mt 1: 23) and the gift of His Son to the world. The scripture passage encourages us to “be still” is the way to spend meaningful time with God and know His peace. God says to us “be still, and know that I am God.” The psalmist came to know the glory, the might, and the power of God during troubled and chaotic times and now he hears God say to him “be still, and know that I am God.” God is calling to him, and to us, to know His presence. His says to us to make a conscious decision to surrender our all at our busiest of times, and stand in awe of Him. When times demand we take action, when we are pressed in every direction, when chaos and confusion consume our thoughts, hear God say, “be still, and know that I am God.” The enemy would have you to believe that to “be still” is to do nothing. Just wait and see. Let time and things pass. Take a moment for yourself and clear your mind. Yet that is counter to God’s plan for those who are His and trust Him by faith. In the demanding times when we and our resources are stretched thin, look to God for He is “our refuge and strength” (Ps 46:1). In times when the direction and decision is unclear, hear the word of God say, “trust in the Lord…He will direct thy paths” (Prov 3:5-6). In chaotic, confusing, and overwhelming times, hear God say, “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). In every instance, God is there with us and nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39). He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5). Dear friend, what will you do with the pressures and the busyness of this Christmas season? When we allow ourselves to be still and embrace God’s peace, we can more clearly hear and listen to His kind voice, follow His guiding hand, and submit and obey to His word. That is where we can best know “Emmanuel…God with us” (Mt 1:23). I pray that your Christmas season is blessed with God’s presence as you gather with family and friends, and as you share the love of God and exalt the Prince of Peace in your homes. Father, thank You for Your eternal love and the peace of Jesus Christ that surpasses all understanding. Be praised and adored in the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.