“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” Luke 2:14
Devotional Thought For The Day
This simple and well-known verse is quite clear as to the good and gracious will of God toward all mankind. Jesus stated the purpose of His coming quite succinctly: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” [Jn. 3:16] So, in a certain sense God is “well-pleased” with humanity, the whole world, and Jesus is the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” [Jn. 1:29] It is especially in this sense that God is well-pleased with mankind, in view of the redemption and cleansing away of sin and guilt accomplished by Jesus in His suffering and death on the cross. It is certain that He wills for peace to prevail in us and among us – that we know that He is reconciled to us and that justified by faith we have peace with Him [Rom. 5:1], so that His peace might also dwell in our hearts and minds, and in the knowledge and experience of His peace there might also be peace between human beings.
That there is any of this peace truly is to the glory of God. Because of our sin we were under condemnation of God’s law, and every human being who remains apart from Christ is certain to perish eternally in the torment of hell – God’s wrath abides on him [Jn. 3:36]. Jesus alone saves us from this perishing and reconciles God to us. We become reconciled to God through repentance and simple faith in Jesus, this wondrous gift from God. It is by faith that God actualizes His peace in our hearts and lives and relationships. Those who persist in unbelief, rejecting this gift of God’s reconciliation and peace, do not enjoy any of this peace. They remain plagued by the guilt of their sin, must somehow justify themselves and insanely contend that they are righteous in their behavior, including the insane and diabolical harm and violence that their sin compels them to commit against other human beings.
The proof of this is evident every day in the affairs of mankind. People murder, rob, rape, and beat others. Some steal by stealth and treachery, by lying and deceiving. The poor and needy are still with us – as Jesus said they would be, and though we can do good to them whenever we want they remain in poverty’s grip [Mark 14:7] Adultery, fornication, divorce, pornography, homosexuality, prostitution, sex-slavery, and a myriad of other horrid, destructive, and perverse sexual sins abound, destroying many lives. And in spite of our sin, many people continue to prance around in arrogance and pride, convinced of how good they are. Across the globe such atrocities are status quo, and also grotesque acts of barbarity – committed by those whose minds have been insanely warped by false religion, so that they even butcher others who share their faith. The judgment is clear, certain, and forceful against those who reject and despise the peace that God wills for mankind in the gift of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And God certainly cannot be pleased with any of this.
He is pleased, however, with those who humble themselves in repentance, who mourn and lament the effect of sin and have turned against it, rejoicing in His gracious forgiveness and mercy, holding to the hope of His promised salvation, and who are striving to implement peace in all that they say and do. This blessedness, though mixed even in believers in this earthly life, is initiated by the gracious love of God, His gift of His Son. All glory and honor goes to God; what thanks and praise we owe Him. How important is it that we do all that we can to announce this same “good will” of God to others? How many lives could be saved, how much suffering eliminated? Eventually, even unbelievers get tired of the gruesome antics of insane misanthropes and are compelled to eradicate them. The time is surely coming. It is better that at least some might come to repentance and life before it is too late and their judgment is sealed. One way in which we announce the good news is simply by living it, displaying the effects of God’s peace in our hearts, glorifying God with our good works and kindness, and treating others with decency, respect, care, and compassion. The angels announced it the night of Christ’s birth; we are privileged to announce it each day!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, we know Your love and Your will that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, that peace might grow and prevail among men. Help us to do our part in the accomplishment of Your will by causing Your peace to grow and dominate our hearts, minds, and lives. Watch over those who suffer at the hands of the insanely wicked; remove all who cannot be brought to repentance and faith. Help us to never lose heart and faith in the power of Your love. Amen.