Finding Peace Joy and Love this Christmas
By Bruce Cannon
Mitchell County
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)
Merry Christmas everyone! I absolutely love everything about Christmas! I love the music at Christmas! I love the trees with all of their lights because they speak to me of the light of the world. I love the giving of gifts because that reminds me of the greatest gift ever given. I love the goodwill among people! I love the special services in the Churches! And all of this is because of a Baby being born 2000 years ago. How profound of an effect He had, and still has, upon people!
The Lord’s gift to us makes me think of what I would give to others if I could and what I want others to have.
- I wish for all of my friends and family peace…peace with each other and more importantly peace with our Lord. I wish for everyone a personal relationship with Christ because He is our peace. It is a fruit generated within by the Holy Spirit as we follow His leadership for our life. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” I pray that when problems arise we can hear the voice of the Savior saying, “I’m here! I will see you through!”
- I wish all of my friends and family joy. There is so much hurt, anger, and frustration in the world. Families fighting with each other; neighbors who won’t talk with each other; turmoil and hatred abound. I wish everyone could know joy! Joy is a fruit of the Spirit also. It comes as we see things from Christ’s perspective, as we trust Him with the attitudes and actions of others and believe that He can fight our battles and work in our circumstances. Joy does not come in the abundance of things we possess but from the knowledge of knowing that God loved us so much that He gave His Son for our salvation; that the King of the world died for us. That should pick us up from whatever feeling of discouragement we may have and cause profound joy to well up in our hearts!
- Most importantly, I wish for everyone to love…true Christian (agape) love. I wish everyone can know Christ’s love for them and have true Christian love for each other. The love of which I speak is a forgiving love and a giving love. It is the kind of love that looks beyond others’ faults and failings and seeks to restore them no matter what has taken place. It’s that love that took Christ to the Cross.
As you go through the next weeks leading up to Christmas Day, think about these things. You are loved with an unbelievable, unfathomable love. If you have not accepted Christ as your Savior, let Him into your heart. He will make all the difference in the world in your life this Christmas. If you do know Him already, seek to make Christmas all about Him. Don’t get caught up in all of the commercialism that will be so prevalent. Rather, meditate on all that the Lord did when He left Heaven’s glory to come to earth. Think about the sacrifice He made when He traded a throne for a manager and the joys of Heaven for the hatred of men. Sense just how much love He has for you. See it in what He did to pay the price for our sins. Where sin brought to man, love brought the Savior! Remember, He resurrected from the grave and now sits on the right hand of the Father making intercession for you. Feel the love? Now, have a Merry Christmas knowing and thinking about these truths!
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Reverend Bruce Cannon currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church in Bakersville. Formerly he served as Director of Missions for the Bladen Baptist Association and he has served on the General Board of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
You can read more Good Christian News from Pastor Cannon HERE.
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