Radical Obedience

SCRIPTURE

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Matthew 2:13-18 (NRSV)

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
"A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

DEVOTION

Today’s scripture reading speaks to the importance of listening to the voice of God.

Some would say that God doesn’t speak clearly in 2009; I would beg to differ. God is always speaking to us; we simply need to put our listening ears on!

God speaks to us through scripture and song. God speaks to us through nature and friendships. God speaks to us in a still small voice or in a “strange feeling” in our heart.

God is always talking with us, but we need to learn to listen!

I am so glad that Joseph had his “listening ears” on. When God told him to get up and take Mary and Jesus to Egypt, he did just that! He didn’t wait around, ask questions, or seek other counsel. He knew that God had given him a command and he obeyed with expediency!

As parents, we know how important it is for our children to obey us when we speak to them. I don’t want to yell “HOT!” at my daughter, only to have her continue to reach out toward the stove asking me, “Why?”

I want her to obey me immediately and without questions trusting that I will never tell her to do anything that is not for her good. Additionally, I want her to obey immediately; I have heard it said that delayed obedience is disobedience.

If Joseph had said, “God I will take Jesus into Egypt in a few weeks after I have time to say goodbye to my family and pack up my belongings, he might have been murdered by Herod.

Instead, Jesus lived to become the savior of the world—feeding the hungry, healing the sick, raising the dead, and ultimately dying and rising again on the third day in order to forgive our sin and gift us with eternal life!

Because Joseph was obedient, God’s good plan unfolded without a hitch. In what ways is God calling you to greater obedience in 2010?

Let us pray:

Holy One, thank you that you are always speaking to me. Please forgive me for the many ways that I have taken your instruction, commandment, and rebuke for granted. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit afresh so that my heart will be attuned to you. I want to go higher in Jesus in the upcoming year and that requires radical obedience to Your Word. I love you and I promise to share our love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Don't leave Jesus Behind!

SCRIPTURE

Luke 2:41-52

2:41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.

2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.

2:43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

2:44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.

2:45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

2:46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

2:47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

2:48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety."

2:49 He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

2:50 But they did not understand what he said to them.

2:51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.


SERMON

In today’s scripture we encounter Jesus, as a twelve-year-old boy, making a pilgrimage with his parents—and other family members--to Jerusalem for the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. This was no ordinary journey as they had to travel approximately sixty miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, on foot, over unpaved paths, taking a circuitous route in order to avoid traveling through Samaria.

Can you imagine? Jesus, his parents, his family members, friends, and townspeople, all journeying to Bethlehem to observe the Passover Celebration together? Well, when they got to Jerusalem, my what a sight to behold…History teaches us that Passover was a week long celebration where thousands of Jews from all over the known world came together in Jerusalem to eternally remember the time when God delivered them out of slavery in Egypt.

For the entire week, they visited the Temple, gathered with family, and slaughtered hundred of thousands of Passover Lambs to atone for the sins of the year. They also ate bread with no yeast to remind them of the special bread eaten by their ancestors in the wilderness as they journeyed toward the Promised Land. It must have been an awesome experience for Jesus, for he was only a boy, and the sites and sounds of the “big city” must have been very different from the humble ones of his own hometown.

When the week was over, Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ family, and townsfolk, packed things up and headed home. You can imagine that a sixty mile journey would probably take approximately fifteen to twenty hours at a good clip. Perhaps they broke that up over 2-3 days, camping on the sides of the paths, or finding whatever modest shelter they could at night.

Well, you can just imagine the entourage…right? After all every good Jewish person was required to observe the Passover in Jerusalem. The paths must have been crowded with pilgrims. It might have looked like a parade without all the pomp and circumstance. Voices raised in laughter and conversation, babies gurgling or crying, women walking together, men walking together, children of every size and shape and age running ahead and behind. And since they were among trusted family and friends, no one feared for the safety of the children, because all would care for any child in need.

So, it is no wonder that Mary and Joseph got a days journey up the road before they even noticed that they hadn’t seen their son, Jesus in a while. They must have stopped and looked around. Asked the other children, talked to the adults around them…At first they wouldn’t have been too worried, but after an hour—or two—with no word from anyone, they must have come to the frantic realization that they had left Jesus behind in Jerusalem.

Can you imagine? As a mother, I cannot imagine the horror Mary must have felt as she thought about her first born child, alone in the big city, maybe lost, confused, scared, potentially hurt, abused, or victimized, and perhaps even crying for his mama.

Well, Joseph and Mary turned around quick fast and in a hurry! It took a days journey to return to Jerusalem and then two days scouring the city, looking everywhere before they finally located their son sitting in the temple, listening to the teaching of Torah, asking and answering questions.

Well, Mary did what every good Mama would in that situation. She stormed up to Jesus and asked him, “"Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." Now, that sounds pretty nice compared to what my mother would have said in similar situations…We may need to assume it has been cleaned up a little for modern ears. (smile)

Now, Jesus, being Jesus answered her question in such an interesting way. He actually seemed surprised that they had had to look for him. Indeed, Jesus looked at her with what I imagine must have been very big, brown and innocent eyes and said, “"Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know that I would be in my Father’s house? Isn’t that an amazing answer? It was amazing then, and it is amazing now. Let me tell you why…

Later this week many of us will make our New Year’s resolutions. We all pull out our journals, or at least a little scrap of paper or a napkin and we make a list of all the things we know we ought to do in the new year. For some us, we will want to be better parents. For others of us we will want to get a more lucrative job. Still others may want to eat better and lose weight. I don’t know what your resolution is, but I know what mine are.

And do you know the most startling thing? Every year, year after year, my resolutions are more or less the same. And when I started asking myself why, the answer came to me in a flash. Very often I leave Jesus behind as I enter the new year.

See, it’s fashionable to walk with Jesus during the Advent Season. We love to anticipate his birth in the stable, we love to imagine the angels heralding his birth; we love to recreate the quest of the shepherds and the wise folks as they followed the risen star in the East. We love to have Christmas programs where our children dress up as cows, and sheep, and Mary and Joseph, and ultimately we love to smile as baby Jesus is laid in the manager at the moment of his birth.

But, all too soon Christmas comes and Christmas goes. The Advent wreath is completely lit. The carols are all sung and the Christmas tree dries out. The presents are opened. Our children are satisfied and the candlelight rendition of “Silent Night” fades into the distance as we all return to work. And all of a sudden we find ourselves headed up the road fast, because we’ve got things to do and people to see--and we leave Jesus behind…We fail to be mindful of his presence. We forget to look for Jesus, anticipate Jesus, listen for Jesus as we journey on the paths of life we have chosen for ourselves.

My friends, if you are anything like me, you are undoubtedly already beginning to experience the stresses and strains of post-holy-day life. Let me encourage us to return for Jesus, just as Mary and Joseph did so many years ago. Let me invite us to become mindful of the Spirit of Christ within us, giving us year round access to joy and peace in the midst of the anxieties and worries of every day life. Jesus is Immanuel. God with us. Not just on Christmas and Easter, but all year round—God is with us!

We don’t need to approach the New Year looking for Jesus with great anxiety. God is in the house! God is right where God has always been--above us, beneath us, around us, and most importantly in us—giving us unlimited access to God’s light, love, joy, and peace. God is in the house and we are God’s chosen house—for we are temple’s of the Holy Spirit!

Further, as we become mindful that God is always in the house, we will realize that we have access to God’s unlimited wisdom. When Jesus became lost in Jerusalem at Passover, he was just 12 years old; but, even then Jesus was so wise. He was not even considered a Bar Mitzvah yet. He had not yet been allowed to read Torah on his 13th birthday in the temple, but today’s lectionary scripture teaches us that as he sat in the temple even the elders were impressed with his wisdom and with his knowledge.

Let’s not abandon the Spirit of CHRST-mas as we go into the New Year. We must take Christ into the New Year with us because God is good and wise today. We don’t have to worry and fuss over resolutions we know we have no intention of keeping; instead we can—and should—be free to consult our all wise God on every aspect of our lives and trust God to steer us aright.

As we go into the new year, let us invite God to help us to frame our New Year’s hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Let us invite God to chart our journey. Let us invite Jesus to walk and talk with us, to lead and guide us along the way.

Look! If we make it our business to walk with Jesus, we won’t leave him behind. We won’t have to go about “searching for God with great anxiety when the road gets rough and the journey gets tough and the hills of life become hard to climb…No, as we walk with Jesus God’s wisdom and understanding will illumine the decisions of our lives and we will experience great joy and peace, victory and valor in the New Year as we live out our God ordained purposes upon the earth by bringing the living hope of the Gospel to the world by knowing and serving Jesus Christ.

Let’s us all take Jesus with us into the New Year. We’ll be glad we did!


Please pray with me:

Holy God, thank you for the potential and possible of 2010. I can’t wait to see what things you have in store for me! Please help to faithfully walk with you and never leave you behind in my haste to do things my way! Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I am so grateful that your love gave Jesus to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life! I believe that he did not stay dead, but was resurrected, just as he promised that he would. My Lord! You are a promise keeper and I worship you today. Please help me to share your good news everywhere that I go. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.



SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

I Believe I'll Testify!

SCRIPTURE

Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

Acts 6:1-7; 7:51-60 (NRSV)

The stoning of Stephen

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word." What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. ...

"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

DEVOTION

Now, I will admit that I am a little shocked by today’s choice of scripture (giggles).

I am still in a sunny, happy, joyful, excited, and stuffed mood after my CHRISTmas celebrations on yesterday!

I am full of the Holy Spirit and overflowing with the love of my family; so you can imagine my surprise when I realized that today’s Revised Common Lectionary scripture was the stoning of Stephen.

As I prayed about what Spirit wanted us to notice about this scripture, I was struck by Stephens’s bold witness, as well as his vision of Jesus at the right hand of God!

On this day, I hope that we will remember to proclaim JESUS when it is easy (on CHRISTmas Day) and when it is hard (any other day).

See, people are often receptive to the good news message on holy days like CHRISTmas, Easter, and Mother’s Day. I actually know people who only go to church on these days!

But, as CHRISTians, we are called to proclaim JESUS 24/7/365. Some days it will be easy and on other days it will be hard. But, on all days we are commissioned to go into the entire world sharing the good news that Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ shall come again!

Like Stephen, we may be met with rejection. People may literally—or figuratively—“stone us” with their words, thoughts, or deeds. But, we must keep our eyes steadfastly fixed on Jesus upon whom our faith depends—from beginning to end!

When we are rejected—or stoned—by family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, or enemies, we must not hold it against them! We must have the courage and the humility to pray, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do!”

Today is the day after CHRISTmas, but our message is still the same. JESUS is the reason for every season!

Let us pray:

Holy God, please make me bold in my proclamation of the good news! Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I will not hold grudges against those who will not receive my testimony. I love you and I really want to share our love with others. Please enable and equip me to do this faithfully, no matter what the cost. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

CHILD(REN) of GOD

SCRIPTURE

John 1:1-14 (NRSV)
The Word became flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.


DEVOTION

Hallelujah! CHRISTmas is here! Happy Birthday Jesus!

Isn’t it wonderful that on today we are reminded through scripture that Jesus is, was, and will ever be? In my tradition, we call him Alpha and Omega; he who has no beginning and no end.

What Amazing Love that our God wrapped himself up in flesh and came into our world, giving us “the power to become the children of God!”

In Jesus, we see the glory of God, who is full of grace and truth! Hallelujah!

Today, we are invited to be like John. Scripture says that “he came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.”

As we celebrate CHRISTmas, let us take this natural opportunity to share the good news with those who need to hear it! Let us remind our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors that Jesus saves and he saves to the utmost! Let us keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas, as we lift up the Name of Jesus everywhere that we go!

Today is a wonderful day to be a good news ambassador and a story teller.

Let us share the good news that God loves us all so much that LOVE was born one CHRISTmas morn. Let us testify that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. Let us remind our loved ones that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected, just as he promised! And let us share our blessed assurance that Jesus will one day come again in power and in glory!

OH YES!

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE & GOOD WILL TO ALL WHOM GOD FAVORS!


Merry CHRISTmas, my friends!


Let us pray:

Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank you for coming into our world as a humble baby. Thank you for growing into a man who fed the hungry, healed the sick, and raised the dead. Thank you for dying on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. Thank you that you did not stay dead, but got up on the third day, just like you said that you would. I love you so much! Thank you for making me your child! Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. Today, I am putting all of my hope in you and I will share this good news with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.



SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed this prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY!

12/24/2009

SCRIPTURE

Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)

God with us

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

DEVOTION

Today is CHRISTmas Eve! I am so excited. Together we have completed our Advent journey and look forward to celebrating Jesus’ birthday on tomorrow!

When I awaken, my family will gather around our dining room table and we will read today’s scripture reading out loud!

We will lament the fact that there was no place for Jesus to be born in the local hotels. We will marvel at the angel’s message to the shepherds, taking careful notice of the words, “Do not be afraid…” We will celebrate the good news message “Peace on earth and goodwill toward all people!” And we will bow down in worship with the shepherds as they pay homage to baby Jesus in the barn.

Hallelujah!

On this CHRISTmas Eve, let me encourage us to let all of our worry, fear, anxiety, and stress just fall away. Even if we do not purchase every gift, wrap every present, or grant every wish, it will still be JESUS’ BIRTHDAY and a time of great rejoicing!

I don't know about you, but I am so excited; for after my family finishes reading scripture, we will bring out Jesus’ birthday cake. We will light candles, sing “Happy Birthday,” and eat cake for breakfast and then we will go to the CHRISTmas tree where my children will open their presents with true gratitude in their hearts.

Today, I will shout from the roof tops:

Christmas is coming! CHRISTmas is coming! CHRIST’s Mass is Coming! Christ is come! Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ shall come again! Hallelujah!

Dear ones, let us remember that JESUS is the reason for this holy day season. In which ways will you invite CHRIST into your CHRISTmas celebrations tomorrow?

Please pray with me:

Holy God, thank you for Jesus! Thank you that I do not need to be afraid of what tomorrow will bring. Please fill my heart with your love, joy, and peace so that I will be prepared to honor you on your birthday! You are so good! Thank you for sending Jesus into the world to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. I believe that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected just as you promised! I can’t wait to share this good news with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed this prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

Justice and Mercy Shall Kiss

SCRIPTURE

Micah 4:6-8 (NRSV)
Dominion shall return to Zion

In that day, says the Lord,
I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away,
and those whom I have afflicted.
The lame I will make the remnant,
and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion
now and forevermore.

And you, O tower of the flock,
hill of daughter Zion,
to you it shall come,
the former dominion shall come,
the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.


DEVOTION

During these final days of Advent, I am struck by the many prophesies we have read regarding that great day when God’s Kingdom will come on earth, as it is in Heaven!

On that great day there will be total harmony upon the earth. Love, joy, peace will be the order of the day.

Justice and mercy will kiss and all those who have been oppressed by people or circumstance will be restored!

Hallelujah!

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for that great getting up mornin’!

Today’s scripture says that on that great day the lame will come. The outcast will come! The afflicted will come! And everyone will be completely, totally, utterly restored!

Glory to God!

On that day even the weakest amongst us will be made strong by the hand of God as we all worship and bow down at Mount Zion forevermore.

I am so glad that God sent LOVE into the world one CHRISTmas morn! I am so joyful that GOD chose to enter into our world—and our human experience—in order to ransom us from sin, death, and the grave! I am so amazed that JESUS loves us so much that he was willing to die on an old rugged cross to forgive us of our sin and gift us with eternal life. And I am so thrilled that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected from the dead on the third day, just as he promised that he would!

God is a promise keeper my friends, and today we have been promised the restoration of all things and all people in the days to come.

Be at peace, dear ones.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!


Let us pray:

Great God, thank you that you love us so much that you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. I believe that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I love you and I want to share your love with others. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.


SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

The Promise of Peace

SCRIPTURE

Micah 4:1-5 (NRSV)
A promise of peace

In days to come
the mountain of the Lord's house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
and many nations shall come and say:
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths."
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines
and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

For all the peoples walk,
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
forever and ever.


DEVOTION

Yesterday’s devotion was entitled “Be at Peace.” In it, Spirit led me to invite us to extend the peace and good will of the CHRISTmas season to someone that we had been “at war” with.

This is a very personal decision. It takes a lot of courage, humility, and conviction to go to a beloved brother and sister and confess our wrong and seek their forgiveness.

But today’s scripture goes one step further! Isaiah prophesies about a day when all of humanity will be at peace with one another because God’s Kingdom will come on earth as it is in Heaven.

On that day God will “teach us his ways that we may walk in his paths.” God will also cause us to “beat our swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

This vision seems so far away as to seem impossible. As human beings tear ourselves asunder through war, civil war, ethnic cleansing, and genocides of every kind, we have every reason to find it hard to imagine a day when there will be “peace on earth and good will toward all people!”

But that day is a-coming, friends!

Because God sent LOVE into the world one CHRISTmas morn, we have the blessed assurance, and certain hope, that one day all things will be fulfilled and we will be at total peace with one another.

Because JESUS lived and died and lived again to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life, we know that there is no-thing that is too hard for our God.

I’m so excited about CHRISTmas ya’ll in these waning days of Advent! What a joy it is to celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, and the Great I Am.


Let us pray:

Holy God, thank you that you are the ultimate peace-maker. I acknowledge that only you are able to usher in the reign of peace on Earth as it is in Heaven. Please help me to cooperate fully with your peace and goodwill plan. Please forgive me for those times that I have sown seed of division, hatred, and war and please fill me up with the Holy Spirit so that I can share your love, joy, peace, and good will now and forever. I love you and I want to share our love with others. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.


THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html