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From God our heav’nly Father
a blessed angel came
and unto certain shepherds
brought tidings of the same,
how that in Bethlehem was born
the son of God by name. 

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, verse 2

If one compiled a Luke 2:1-20 highlight reel to a rhyme scheme and catchy melody, we would have today’s verse.  It chronicles when an angel appeared to the shepherds, but this vision follows several other visions and is incredibly important. 

Previously, angels appeared to Mary and Joseph to foretell the virgin birth.  Although they believed and answered the call to usher the Messiah into the world, it was the shepherds who confirmed the callings, both theirs and of the newborn baby laying in the manger.  Take a minute to read Luke’s account above to see what I mean.

Until then, Mary and Joseph acted in faith based upon what their angels had revealed, but now they received outside confirmation as well…and from shepherds no less.  King David, from whom the Messiah is descended from, was also a shepherd called in from the fields at one time (so that he could be anointed King).  All throughout scripture we see our God using His people, as unlikely as they may be, to advance His plans and purposes. 

I find an amazing peace in knowing God can use anyone at any time.  Maybe it’s a brother or sister in Christ coming to my rescue or perhaps God will use me to do the same for someone else.  Perhaps those He has placed in my path will provide confirmation of His calling on my life, or perhaps I can be fortunate enough to provide that discerning confirmation to another. 

However our lives unfold or how God uses us, we can have a peace knowing He has it all under control, just like the night in Bethlehem two thousand years ago.  He’s got this.

Scripture Reference

1 Peter 4:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9a

Action Step

Today, tell God you are willing for Him to use you to advance His purposes and His plans.  Then, today and moving forward, keep your eyes and heart open to where you can join God in His work.

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God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our savior 
was born on Christmas Day
To save us us all from Satan’s power 
when we were gone astray.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, verse 1

Gas prices are rising. Let nothing you dismay.

Relationships are constantly shifting and there is so much conflict. Let nothing you dismay.

But, politics. Let nothing you dismay.

The world is changing so fast. Let nothing you dismay.

I can’t “afford” Christmas. Let nothing you dismay.

(insert your worry here).  Let nothing you dismay.

Have you ever told somebody to calm down?  Or better yet, has anyone ever told you to calm down?  How’d that go?  If your experience is anything like mine then you will note that no calming happened in response to that command.  Often the exact opposite happens because our present calamity has a stronger voice than our future serenity.  Take heart and know that you are not alone in this.  

In Luke 1:11-15 Zechariah is told, do not be afraid (let nothing you dismay) because his barren wife was going to bear a son and he would be amazing. Luke 2:30-33 Mary is told, do not be afraid (let nothing you dismay) because her son would be the Savior of the world. Then in Matthew 2:20-21 Joseph is told, you guessed it, do not be afraid (let nothing you dismay) because his fiancee’s pregannacy is the Messiah of God.  The trend has everything to do with events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

We are entrenched in realities that could bring us to debilitating fear-or we can remember.  We can allow the truth of Jesus’ birth to be our core thought, our guiding principal.  When we trust that Jesus came to defeat sin and death then we have no reason to be afraid.  Jesus has saved us from the curse of shame and death.  When are taken by our fear we lose sight of our peace.  

Christ our Savior is our peace.  Christmas means we don’t have to be afraid.  Let nothing you dismay.

Scripture Reference

Luke 1:11-15, Luke 1:30-33, Matthew 1:20-21

Action Step

What is causing you to be afraid?  Reinforce the truth that Christ is your peace.

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O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

O Come, All Ye Faithful, refrain

I have been walking through a difficult season. I mean completely life-altering. My life as I knew it drastically changed as I found myself walking through a divorce after years of a difficult, unreconcilable marriage. At one of my counseling sessions, my counselor and I evaluated the last 6 months. As we sat in together reconciling the difference between my heartache and journey in comparison to many others who have walked this unspeakably painful path, we could only attribute the growth, the peace, and sheer thriving to one source: God.

I had nothing left to give, completely poured out and so unsure how to move forward. I had many nights where I sat alone completely broken, weeping, and deeply hurting. While battling heartache, anxiety, and physical pain the only comfort I could find was to listen and sing worship music: to adore Him. 

As I worshipped, I journaled my prayers. One prayer I wrote was completely praising God with adoration, claiming every name that I had ever intimately known. This is what honestly saved my life and got me through this incredibly difficult season.

The truth is we are never truly alone. We can run to the Father, clinging to the hem of His garment, safe within the palm of His hands. I found peace as I praised Him because peace is not the absence of problems, peace is found in the presence of God. It is because our hearts are made to adore Him and reciprocate God’s love. We were made for an intimate love relationship with God in the highs and the lows. What we receive as we adore Him is peace as we experience His deep-abiding love for us. It is such a gift!

Scripture Reference

Psalm 95:1-7

Action Step

Reflect on a time you walked through a difficult situation, maybe it’s right now. What is your initial response? If you’re not sitting in His presence, worshiping Him in the difficult places, ask Him to help you adore Him. Then, praise Him in the broken places.

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God from true God, and
Light from Light eternal,
born of a virgin, to earth he comes!
Only-begotten Son of God the Father

O Come, All Ye Faithful, verse 2

This verse may sound familiar: they hark back to the oft-recited Nicene Creed and incredibly similar Apostles Creed, two staples in many “traditional” Christian church services.  The former is a bit longer than the latter and has some additional theology (what we believe about God) in it.  It’s that difference that we find here in these lyrics: the establishment of Jesus and God as one. 

The Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is incredibly essential to the beliefs we maintain as Christians: if Jesus was not one with the Father, inseparable as light is from light, then that would make Him a lesser God…but then our roots in monotheism (the belief of one God as opposed to many Gods as the Egyptians believed in, for example) would become uprooted, and Jesus becomes a “lesser” God than his father.  No.  Jesus and God are one, along with the Holy Spirit.  They have existed in perfect harmony with one another since before creation. They exist in perfect peace in relationship to one another.

Going even further back than the Creation accounts in Genesis, we see that the first true example of us living in community is exemplified in the Triune God, Himself.  We were made in His image and once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit lives in us, too.  As such, within ourselves and within the Trinity, we have a microcosm of living in community with others.

God never asks us to do something which He didn’t already do Himself and which He didn’t already craft a way for achieving.  Let Him be the prime exemplar of how we should peacefully exist and interact with others today.

Scripture References

Ephesians 4:2-3; Romans 12:16-18

Action Step

Today, in prayer, ask God to reveal where you could benefit from greater community in your life.  Is it within your marriage?  With parents or grandparents? In your church? Once revealed, commit to taking a step toward community in that area before the day is done.  

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O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant 
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him born the king of angels.

O Come, All Ye Faithful, verse 1

I was a faithful Orioles fan for one season.  I went to the games, knew all the players, checked scores daily and trash-talked Yankee fans.  I was devoted.  Toward the end of the season it looked like they were moving toward an American League Championship and I was there for it, until they lost.  It was like someone ripped my heart out and danced on its pathetic form.  

Faithfulness does that.  We entrust something or someone with our hopes and fears.  This is where our first verse brings us.  The author calls the faithful to rejoice in victory, to revel in triumph, because a king has been born.  He is a king whose power is over the physical and metaphysical physical realms.  The faithful can breathe a sigh of relief because of the peace that comes through victory.  But there is a next step.  It’s not enough to feel the relief but to be called to approach the unlikely place where this thing has happened and worship the king.

Bethlehem was the last place on earth where events like this should take place.  This piece of the Christmas story is incredible for those who doubt what God can do and where God will move.  The king of angels is born in an unlikely place.  Even the faithful can doubt God can move in an unlikely place.  Doubting does not take away the status as “faithful,” but the faithful can have their doubts removed because they stay.  The faithful trust in God in the midst of their doubts and are rewarded with peace that surpasses understanding.

Scripture Reference

Hebrews 10:22, Micah 5:2

Action Step

Where do you have the greatest doubts?  What can you do to reinforce your faith in the midst of your doubt?

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Our journey through Advent brings us to a reflection of peace.  A quick description of peace might be the absence of chaos and conflict.  I can tell you that one of the most peaceful moments of my day is when my two youngest children are asleep in their beds. A quick jaunt to the nearest hobby store, and you might find a rustic plaque with script writing that declares, “Peace on Earth.”  It doesn’t take much research for us to find the opposite is the harsh reality of our world.  Which brings us to the question: If Jesus comes to bring “Peace on Earth,” why is there so much violence and conflict? 

The two songs we will use as reference points are “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”  Each song provides a unique perspective on the peace that God inaugurates through the life of Jesus.  In “O Come,” we will see the Christmas story of Luke described in 3 stanzas and a major key.  In “God Rest,” we will go through 3 stanzas of a song in a minor key.  It is a beautiful illustration that Christ is our peace amid our joy and sadness.

When the prophet Isaiah foretold the birth of Christ, he said, “And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end.”  God has established his rule of peace through Jesus.  The next step is for us to live into that peace on his terms, not ours.  It is then that we will find the peace that we are looking for.

Scripture References

Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 40:1-5

Action Step

In moments where you feel like there is conflict, meditate on the peace Jesus wants to bring.

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This week’s hymns

Traditional Versions

Contemporary Versions

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O Come, O King of nations,
bind in one the hearts of all mankind. 
Bid all our sad divisions cease,
and be yourself our King of Peace.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel, verse 7

I love how the writer of this song speaks of such great hope as he asks for the binding of the hearts of all mankind and asks for all sad divisions to cease. What a beautiful request to the King of Peace! He knows that we need Jesus to make peace. 

To fully appreciate this song verse, let’s break down the word peace by taking a look at this word in Hebrew. In Hebrew, the word peace is Shalom which means completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace.  Have you ever experienced peace? Where everything is complete, sound, safe, and in total peace? I’ve had moments of peace by myself and with others. Moments where it can feel like everything is “right in the world”.

 In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In a world that is chaotic, busy, and quite overwhelming I have had to be intentional to cultivate peace within my life and with others.

The successful abiding of peace has only come through spiritual discipline. Making sure I am entering into the peace-filled presence of God through His Word, praise, thanksgiving, and prayer. When I do it shifts my perspective from the problem to the hope found in Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3 is a promise that says “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” It can be hard in a world that distracts us, but He promises us that as we focus on Him, and trust Him, that we will have perfect peace.  What a beautiful hope-filled promise!

We interact with people often. Whether in our homes, our workplaces, our schools, or even grocery shopping. Simple fact: people are everywhere. God has designed us for others and to be in community with others.

Relationships can be difficult at times. In our scripture reading, James gives us great advice on how to walk wisely with others. In doing so, he says we will reap righteousness.

Peacemakers are those who seek peace at all costs. This is not merely keeping the peace. That would be called a peacekeeper, which is not what we are called to be. Rather we are called to make peace. This can vary in approach and what you are tasked with prayerfully through the Holy Spirit, but regardless of how the peace should be made, James encourages us to walk wisely in doing it.

Scripture Reference

James 3:17-18

Action Step

 Is there a difficult relationship in your life currently? Pause and take a moment to pray for this relationship. Ask God what next step you need to do to become a peacemaker in this relationship, then follow through in obedience to what God is asking you to do.

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O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel, verse 6

I hear you…but please hear me out.

Morning Star is one of those mysterious terms which comes to us from the Book of Revelation (22:8).  It is associated with one of seven promises from Christ to those who overcome the trials and temptations of life, remaining loyal to him to the end.  As with other imagery used in Revelation, this can seem really abstract.  That’s OK.  It is! 

Here’s a tip: if something doesn’t make sense in a prophecy, look for similar terms used elsewhere in scripture; they can usually provide additional insight.  So, although  biblical scholars don’t quite all agree on the exact meaning of the Morning Star, we can find clues to its meaning within scripture itself.

Many maintain that the Morning Star refers to Jesus himself. Christ is described as the “Morning Star” in 2 Peter 1:19, and He identifies Himself as ‘“the bright morning star” in Revelation 22:16. 

Now, let’s replace the obtuse yet scripturally significant “Bright and Morning Star” with Jesus.  Go ahead.  I’ll wait…

In doing so, we see that Jesus brings us comfort, dispels the shadows of the night and turns our darkness into light.  Shadows only exist if there is a light source to begin with.  Think about it.  Without light there can be no shadows.  Let Jesus be that light!  He is the light! If there is a darkness in your life right now, ask Jesus to enter that space with you.  

Darkness can’t remain where light is present.  How much hope does that give us?!?  We don’t need to stay in our sinfulness, hold onto negative perceptions, or fight battles on our own.  We can ask  Jesus, the Light, to enter into those dark spaces with us.   We have hope, a blessed assurance, that one day God will not only defeat evil in our world but also inside of us and bring His healing presence to make all things new!

Scripture References

John 8:12, Matthew 7:7-8

Action Step

Today, identify an area of your life where you can invite Jesus into.  This can be either an area where sin currently reigns or where you could use a healthier perspective.  Do not allow the darkness to remain any longer.  Invite Him in.

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O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death’s abode.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel, verse 5

As we prepared to buy our first house we hit a snag.  The lender wanted the back deck stained. If left in its current state, the wood would rot and the safety of the deck compromised.  For the next month the weather was touch and go and with the help of my friend, Jeff (who was also our realtor), we finally got it done.  I remember the moment he handed us the keys and the relief that the house was finally ours.  The work finished, and the labor of building a home ready to start.  

Every home needs a way to get in.  A door, a gate, a walkway…you get the picture.  If a home is kept secure from outside threats, then it needs a lock and, in-turn, a key.  In John 14, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to prepare a place for them in his father’s house.  Thomas responds with a very logical question, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:1-7)

God sends us the key to His home.  The prophet Isaiah had shown that the key to heaven would be through the line of David. Check the lineage and we see Jesus is of the line of David (Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 1:6 ).  His sacrifice and resurrection opens the “heavenward road.”  We still have access to opportunities that can bring us away, so we sing “bar the way to deaths abode” or “lead us not temptation, but deliver us from evil.”  

Our souls long for a home, God provides the key: Jesus, Emmanuel.

Scripture References

John 14:1-7, Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 1:6

Action Step

What way away from “home” do you need to ask God to block?  What steps will you take to move toward God through Jesus?

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O Come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
 From depths of hell your people save,
and gives them victory o’er the grave.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel, verse 4

Can we just sit for a minute pondering and treasuring these hope-filled words? Breathing in deep the depths of the implications of this song verse. This branch of Jesse, the lesser-known family member, the father of King David, speaks of Jesus. This reference to Jesus actually shows the humility of our King.

In Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah uses Jesse’s name instead of saying David’s stem, intentionally to show Jesus’ humble roots. Our humble King Jesus has come to rescue us from the pits of hell. If that was not enough, what else does the song say He has done? It says He gives us victory over death. 1 Corinthians 15:57, confirms this: “.” Why would Jesus do such a thing? This King is all-sufficient. Why would He come and step into our brokenness? In 2 Corinthians 5:19, it says, “that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

Love in action.

God, through Jesus, is saying with His actions, “I love you. I died for you so that we can live reconciled, together forever.” How many other Kings would do this? Jesus stepped off His glorious throne so we could have intimacy with God. Oh, what love! This great love gives us so much hope.

 When my kids express their love for me in different ways such as drawing me a picture, cleaning their room on their own, giving me a hug, or caring for me while I am sick…could you imagine if I did not respond? It would actually be unthinkable. How much more should we respond with gratitude to such a deep call to intimacy from our Father?

Scripture Reference

 1 John 4:9-10

Action Step

If Christ died for us, putting His great, abiding love into action, how should we respond? How can you respond to His love for you today?

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