December 20th, 2024
by Steve Marshall
by Steve Marshall
Church Family:
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his wife Fanny Elizabeth had two boys and four girls during the mid 1800s. They had another daughter that died as an infant. Fanny tragically died after her dress caught on fire while taking a nap. Henry awakened and tried to extinguish the flames with a rug and then his own body, but Fanny had already suffered severe burns. She died the next morning (July 10, 1861). Henry’s burns were severe enough that he was unable even to attend his wife’s funeral. His oldest son, Charley, went off to fight for the Union army in the Civil War. On December 2, 1963, Henry received a telegram with the news that Charley had been severely wounded during a battle of the Mine Run Campaign. Charley had been shot through the left shoulder, with the bullet traveling across his back, nicking his spine then exiting his right shoulder. On Friday, December 25, 1863, Henry found himself a 57-year-old widowed father of six children with his oldest son almost paralyzed, all living in the USA while it was at war against itself. Life was gloomy and dark. There seemed to be no hope in a world without peace. And then Henry sat down and wrote a poem, “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
Read the poem and you will hear the struggle within Henry believing the declaration of the heavenly hosts at the birth of Christ in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” In one verse Henry writes, “in despair I bowed my head; There is no peace on earth, I said; For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” Do you ever wrestle with that thought? If God took on flesh to bring peace on earth, why is there so much war and hate? What is this peace that Christ brings as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)?
Jesus himself tells us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The peace that the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, has in mind may include global peace but that is not His primary thought. Global peace may be a fruit of what He is talking about, but His focus is on the peace that dwells in your heart, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” The Prince of Peace has come to pour peace into your heart for every situation that you find yourself in as you live in this sinful world. Jesus has come to give peace that cannot be taken away by anybody or anything. He says it even more clearly in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
In the last verse of his poem, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow fights for peace that only Christ can give and can never be taken away no matter the tribulation. He writes, “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.” You too must fight to rejoice in the truth that you have peace through the incarnate Son of God who went to the cross to purchase your forgiveness. The Prince of Peace satisfied the Father’s wrath against all your unrighteousness. The Prince of Peace makes you at peace with the Father. The Prince of Peace took on all our condemnation. The Prince of Peace made a way for you to experience peace every day through His Spirit reigning in your heart. We have a great Prince of Peace who is our Savior, the Son of God incarnate, Jesus Christ. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”
See you Sunday, at peace with God: Steve
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his wife Fanny Elizabeth had two boys and four girls during the mid 1800s. They had another daughter that died as an infant. Fanny tragically died after her dress caught on fire while taking a nap. Henry awakened and tried to extinguish the flames with a rug and then his own body, but Fanny had already suffered severe burns. She died the next morning (July 10, 1861). Henry’s burns were severe enough that he was unable even to attend his wife’s funeral. His oldest son, Charley, went off to fight for the Union army in the Civil War. On December 2, 1963, Henry received a telegram with the news that Charley had been severely wounded during a battle of the Mine Run Campaign. Charley had been shot through the left shoulder, with the bullet traveling across his back, nicking his spine then exiting his right shoulder. On Friday, December 25, 1863, Henry found himself a 57-year-old widowed father of six children with his oldest son almost paralyzed, all living in the USA while it was at war against itself. Life was gloomy and dark. There seemed to be no hope in a world without peace. And then Henry sat down and wrote a poem, “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
Read the poem and you will hear the struggle within Henry believing the declaration of the heavenly hosts at the birth of Christ in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” In one verse Henry writes, “in despair I bowed my head; There is no peace on earth, I said; For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” Do you ever wrestle with that thought? If God took on flesh to bring peace on earth, why is there so much war and hate? What is this peace that Christ brings as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)?
Jesus himself tells us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The peace that the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, has in mind may include global peace but that is not His primary thought. Global peace may be a fruit of what He is talking about, but His focus is on the peace that dwells in your heart, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” The Prince of Peace has come to pour peace into your heart for every situation that you find yourself in as you live in this sinful world. Jesus has come to give peace that cannot be taken away by anybody or anything. He says it even more clearly in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
In the last verse of his poem, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow fights for peace that only Christ can give and can never be taken away no matter the tribulation. He writes, “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.” You too must fight to rejoice in the truth that you have peace through the incarnate Son of God who went to the cross to purchase your forgiveness. The Prince of Peace satisfied the Father’s wrath against all your unrighteousness. The Prince of Peace makes you at peace with the Father. The Prince of Peace took on all our condemnation. The Prince of Peace made a way for you to experience peace every day through His Spirit reigning in your heart. We have a great Prince of Peace who is our Savior, the Son of God incarnate, Jesus Christ. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”
See you Sunday, at peace with God: Steve
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
2023
March
Hebrews 10:24-25Psalm 32Psalm 1Like A Tree...He is our SHIELD, our GLORY, and the LIFTER of our head...No Longer Live For Themselves...We worship a LORD who wants our words, meditations and cries...The goal of all things in each moment everywhere...A stronghold in times of trouble!God keeps you as the little man in His eye.And who is a Rock, except our God?His way is perfect. Always. Forever.The LORD restores your soul perfectly."Whatever the Lord does" is beautiful.The LORD's perfect law will REVIVE your soul.100% Wisdom guaranteed!Come and Claim Your Great Reward.Immeasurable riches for you daily in Christ.Know this! Show this!God's kindness is perfect and the power that leads us to repentance.The LORD loves being a Shepherd.Fit for the Kingdom of GodFaithful Prayer brings Faithful Power - God's power.Remembering the Good in Good Friday - Good Friday TimelineFind God's Glory in Every StoryDenying Self Remains Our Call Even During a PandemicCome together in Prayer and Fasting - Wednesday evening to Thursday evening5:13pm Daily - Powerfully Praying TogetherHave you noticed? Can you see it?None of this is meaningless!Grace Community Church's Mitigation Strategy for COVID-19Do not fear; Only believe!Why Demons... today? For God's greatness to be seen more clearly everyday.Having Faith vs. Engaging FaithWhat does your heart hear? - With a hardness, shallowness, thorniness or goodness?Know Your Sins - Know His ForgivenessDoubt your doubts... not Jesus.Compassion Costs Us Something - Invest Your CompassionWonder twin powers - activate! Faith and The Word of GodHoliness is something we are to do because of what we already are - Holy.Boasting in our arrogance in 2020 vs. Resting in God's Providence in 2020Does the start of 2020 find you spiritually renewed or spiritually sleepy?Satan never saw it coming... the IncarnationWhen do you forgive someone's grievous sin against you?Are you a Peacemaker or a Peacefaker?What does gratitude look like today?We Grieve with HopeFear wants to be your boss. God says, nope...What does your anger look like? What is your anger saying?
Categories
no categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments