The Greatest Gift Once and For All!

Peace between You and God

Luke 1:77–79 “To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.””

John the Baptist was proclaiming the mission of Jesus!

Luke 2:14 NASB95

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

The angels declared “peace”! peace for who? Those he is pleased with. Who is he pleased with? Not mankind for all have sinned!

Romans 2:11–12 “For there is no partiality with God. For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;”

Luke 3:22 “and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.””

This is the connection, inwhich, all men can have peace with God! Not by force but by choice!

Just as Johns mission was to prepare the road for Jesus by calling people to repent and turn back to God. Jesus walked that road and made it so we can do so as well.

Luke 3:4–5 “as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight. ‘Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be brought low; The crooked will become straight, And the rough roads smooth;”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” He is the example we follow! By faith and obedience! His ways are the ways to peace and love!

Not only does He show us the way but he guards and protects us! He will only let the enemy go so far!

Luke 22:28–32 NASB95

“You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

He wants to use you in more ways than you can imagine! God uses miracles but He delights in using obedient men and women! Thats how you reflect His glory! Get in the game!

Prior to His last breath he told the thief on the cross he will be in paradise with Him today. Jesus was displaying his power even in the grasp of death! Immediately after He died you see the power of faith at hand and a centurion who was mocking him believes!

Luke 23:46–47 “And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.””

After His resurrection on the Road to Emmaus Jesus meets some of his disciples discussing the events that just took place. All the disciples left after his death. As they were walking Jesus explained what had happened.

Luke 24:25–27 “And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”

Luke 24:36–49 “While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them. Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ wou…”

So as we celebrate the birth of the Promised King, born of a virgin, fully man and fully God…Know that God Loves you and wants to call you sons and daughters! Find peace with Him, and trust him by getting to know Him through His word. Talk to him, ask him all that your heart desires for once you begin to understand His ways are not your ways! You’ll expierence the peace that was promised and when their is peace you’ll find love. When you expierence love

‘Every ravine will be filled,

And every mountain and hill will be brought low;

The crooked will become straight,

And the rough roads smooth;

Take a few minutes to contemplate who God the Father says he is. Video.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 3:5.

My exhortation is this…You know what the gift is…receive it Get to know the one who has graciously offered Peace and Love and Joy! Trust the one who paid it all! Tonight let His Love shine from each one of us onto each other! May peace be with you and amongst us! In the year to come, focus on the good, the true, the beautiful and the glorious! Now eat! Drink! Revel in His Glory! Be Merry! The future is Bright and glorious to those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ!