A Christmas and All-Year-Round Blessing

A Christmas and All-Year-Round Blessing

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Luke 2:13-14 (NKJV)
^“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

The army of heaven appeared at the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and proclaimed the first Christmas greeting, the first Christmas blessing. It is a three part, progressive, blessing:  glory to God, peace and, then, goodwill toward others.  The blessing is not only about what God has given to us in the incarnation.  It is also about what we are to give in return.

We give glory to God by meditating on who He is and on our relationship with Him. It is often too easy to become so embroiled in the affairs of the world that we forget that greater is He who is in us than he who is the world. (1 John 4:4).  While we must be prayfully aware of the trials and tribulations of life, we must also keep our minds set on the One who has the solutions. 

Paul wrote to the people at Philippi, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8 NKJV)

God is true; God is noble; His actions are just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous and worthy of praise.  When we mediate on His Word and His intervention in our lives, our spirits are touched with His love and we sing as David sang,  “Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.” (1 Chronicles 16:8-12 NKJV)

The second step in the process of blessing is “Peace on earth.”  Peace on earth does not begin in the halls of Congress nor in the Oval Office.  It begins within the hearts of each of us.  “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18 NKJV).

Because God has given free will to all, we can choose to live peacefully even with those with whom we disagree.  While we don’t have to accept ungodly principles, we must recognize that others have the freedom to make those choices.  The Word of God is our line in the sand.  Just as we must allow others to have freedom of choice; they must make the same allowance for us.  When they don’t make that allowance, we can stand firm in truth and in the peace of God. 

My prayer is that others will see the “peace that passes all understanding” in our lives and desire that peace in their own.    Our lives must be testimonies for the Kingdom of God.  We must be willing to "preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." (Although this quotation is often attributed to St. Frances of Assisi, we cannot verify the origin.)

When we glorify our heavenly Father, when we walk in His peace, then goodwill toward others naturally flows from our inner being.  Instead of being sources for discontent and despair, we become conduits for peace and good will.

        May the light of God, found in salvation through Jesus Christ, fill our hearts, shine from our countenances and be spread throughout the world in our words and our actions.  Merry Christmas to all.