30 Days of Gratitude: Day 29

Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love

Advent is underway. This comes with a time of reflection on what this season is about.

For members of the Christ-following community, this season is about the reminder of the best gift anyone could receive: the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah and what it meant for humanity. For generations, the Jewish people waited for the promised Messiah, who they believed would be the warrior who would save the Jewish people from Rome. Little did they expect the Son of God to come in the form of a vulnerable infant boy. The prophets foretold of the one to come and how he would arrive. They clung to the hope of what the Messiah meant for them.

This child would come into the world and would be known as Emmanuel, God With Us. He would be Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. How could a great warrior bring peace? We need to stop thinking of the peacemaker as bringing absolute peace to humanity. With free will, that will never be a thing. The peace he brought came through our relationship with Him, knowing that, in our faithfulness and steadfastness to God, no matter what we go through on earth, we will have eternity in peace with Him. I would love to see peace on earth. I would love to teach my youth group that peace is possible. Until humanity gets to a point where we stop reacting with rage and hate to anyone who is not like us, it will never be a thing. The peace we are granted as Christ-followers should be extended in every interaction, whether the person is kind, angry, hateful, or otherwise.

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people..." The scripture verse that rings throughout the holiday season. If you have ever watched A Charlie Brown Christmas, this line is spoken by Linus in a speech about what Christmas is about. If you know, you know: Linus drops his security blanket when he says "fear not," symbolizing the impact of the joy of Christ's birth on each person. The Joy that overpowers fear. The Joy that overrides destruction. The Joy that supersedes darkness. Joy should always fill our hearts when we are in a relationship with Christ. This doesn't mean we do not feel other emotions. This doesn't mean we do not experience hard times. It means we focus on the joy that comes from Christ, knowing he carries us through it all.

"We're alive, we can breathe, but do we really care for this world in need? There's a choice we must make each and every day, so close your eyes and share the dream. Let everyone on earth believe. The child was born, and the stars shone bright. And love came down at Christmas time." This song was performed by Point of Grace in 1999. This song captures the emotions of the story of Christ. " For God so loved the world, He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." God knew what Jesus had to do before He sent Him from the heavenly realm to earth. He knew that Jesus would come back, but not before enduring a torturous death. God knew the debt for sin in the world could not be settled by mortal beings. He sent his Son to earth, that we would be able to love in the hope, peace, joy, and love that come through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The ultimate gift of love came to us, so let us go out and share it with the world.