God's Christmas List

Week 3 of Christmas with Cornerstone begins now.

Listen to this: What God Wants for Christmas. Then read Psalm 91.

Anxiety. Depression. Uncertainty. Grief. Anger. Frustration. Mistrust. Any of those words resonate with you as you think over the past year?

One word that I pray fills you, even in the midst of these hard things is peace. When I look at the modern world and listen to the words of the ancient text, I see a world longing for peace.

Peace with God.
Peace with others.
Peace with self.

Psalm 91 reminds us that God is our refuge...our fortress...our peace.

This is exactly what God desired over the world when Jesus came. The familiar words captured in song and Charlie Brown's Christmas Special appear in Luke's Gospel:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

God sent Jesus to restore peace in the world. Turmoil took over when people rejected God's word, will and ways. That turmoil continues today. Jesus is called the "Prince of Peace" in Isaiah chapter 9.  Jesus spoke peace over his first followers, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27

2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that God's wish list (his desire or will) for the world is that each of us would know His peace and salvation through Jesus. Yet, in with perfect patience, God invites you to respond to the greatest invitation ever.

The world brings trouble. Jesus brings peace. Peace is no further from your life than your life is from God. Jesus has come so that each of us may experience the peace of God in our lives. Romans 5:1 affirms, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

The simple question remains, "Will you believe?"

As always, feel free to comment and share as we encourage each other toward Jesus this Christmas.