Countdown to Christmas - December 15, 2022

"If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live at peace with all people." (Romans 12:18) I memorized that verse years ago when I was dealing with a particularly "difficult" person. I'm going to preface anything more I have to say with this: God is showing me right now that I am more difficult than I care to acknowledge. 

If you are a mom, or a caregiver, or a pastor, or anyone who has been given some sort of regular responsibility for the well-being of others, or your situation requires you deal with folks having personalities less than congruent to your own, you know. You can feel as though you spend day after day, all day fighting: fighting to lessen the damage, fighting to gain control, fighting to get others to comply, fighting to understand or be understood -- it's exhausting! And forget fighting your own battles: the bulge, the budget, the burdens. But there is peace. Even better, Shalom.

I'm going to give you the abridged version of this-- it's sooo good, I'm looking forward to revisiting it again and again --but, shalom is the Hebrew word most of our English texts translate peace. As sometimes occurs, however, when translating to another language, some of the richness and essence of a word or concept gets watered down. I think that's happened with our word peace. It usually appears with its friend quiet, and tumbles out of the mouths of mothers a dozen times a day. It's most often a feeling in the everyday, and only a real thing when we talk about it coming to existence between rival nations. We think of peace as the result of a lack of turmoil, a moment to ourselves, an assurance the cancer is gone, a picture perfect evening with family, sufficient funds to meet our needs. But is that the peace of the Bible? Is that shalom?

In What Is Shalom: The True Meaning, Susan Perlman says, "Peace (shalom) cannot be determined by our own biased viewpoints or selfish needs." The peace we tend to long for is a cheap, subpar, self-serving, worldly version of the shalom of Jesus Christ. Shalom is wholeness, some say "nothing missing, nothing broken," complete restoration that one's purpose might be obvious. What on earth would that look like? Well, if we believe our purpose is to bring God glory, shalom would be a completeness that allows us to be Christ to others in a way that is humanly impossible, with no trace of reluctance or ego. And here's the good news: God keeps in perfect peace (shalom) those whose minds are focused on Him because they trust Him (Isaiah 26:3). Peace with God (reconciliation) was obtained through Jesus Christ's work at the cross (Romans 5:1). And peace is proof of the Holy Spirit working in us (Galatians 5:22-23)! 

But I don't feel peace! you say. Oh, yes you do, just not the type of peace the world gives. You feel the pain as the Holy Spirit takes you through grief in order to make you whole. You feel the frustration as the Holy Spirit guides you through tough situations to make you complete. You feel the disappointment as the Holy Spirit walks you through failed endeavors and dwindling bank accounts to reconcile you to the person and purpose God intended when He made you. That, my friend, is shalom you're feeling. And every moment you spend fighting it, insisting things will be better your way, robs you of your peace. If shalom is wholeness, complete reconciliation, getting to that point in a world like this is going to be tough; but be of good cheer, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, has overcome the world (John 16:33)! Celebrate His coming!

Countdown to Christmas - December 12, 2022

What else did you have? 

My husband is on a diet. He has asked me to help him plan his meals and count his calories.

What do you mean? He feigned innocence.

What do you mean, what do I mean? I mean, what else did you have to eat? 

After seventeen years with this man, I could tell. He'd stopped for a slice of pizza on his way home. I know my husband. 

I was reading Genesis 37 this morning. It's the first good look we get of Joseph (not Jesus' step-father, but the one with the fancy coat) and his relationship with his family. Jacob, Joseph's father, played favorites and Joseph was it. That created resentment among all Jacob's other sons and Joseph exploited it:

Hey, guys, guess what! I had a dream you were all bowing down to me! Is that cool or what?

No, it was not. But Joseph's hubris didn't stop there:

Hey, Dad, guess what! I had a dream you, mom, and all my brothers were bowing down to me! Is that cool or what?

As parents, we want to champion our children, to inspire them to great things and give them as many opportunities as we are able, but in the natural, Jacob wasn't hearing anything about bowing to his own son! Oh, you really think that's gonna happen, Joe? Despite his initial reaction, however, verse 11 tells us Jacob kept the matter in mind. Succinctly put, Jacob knew God when he saw Him. He may not have liked it, but he accepted the possibility.

When we examine the events surrounding the advent of Jesus, the Messiah, who could imagine this was the birth of a King, the King of all kings? Who could imagine God Himself would pick Bethlehem, of all places, to arrive? Who could imagine He would be born to a young woman, engaged and claiming to have conceived by the Holy Spirit? Who could imagine the first people designated to herald God's presence on earth would be filthy shepherds? Who could imagine a Redeemer, helpless, wrapped in rags, and lying in a manger?

I hope you can. I hope you have known God long enough, have walked with Him closely enough, or simply, have decided to trust His character enough, that you know Him when you see Him. I hope you are seeking to understand what Scripture reveals about His nature and His work, that you might believe even in the impossible. I hope you have determined to believe what God says, that you might understand the events and the things of God when you see them. I hope that knowing Him is the only reward you seek.