Thursday, December 8, 2022

G is for Glory

 Thank you for your prayers as we travel. We definitely need your prayers for safety and good health and God's blessing!

 

We've put together a page with 52 Christmas messages. Feel free to use this material in any way that may be helpful to you, including sermon preparation or in Bible studies, or simply for your own devotional reading.

This week's message is today's devotional from our Advent Alphabet series. There is still time for you to download your free copy of Advent Alphabet or any of our nine Advent devotionals. Click on this link to download your free copy.
 
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Keep Believing Ministries
P. O. Box 257
Elmhurst, IL 60126


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Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay in touch. We love hearing from you.

Ray Pritchard
Keep Believing Ministries
Shawnee, Kansas
 
G is for Glory 
 
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).
 
How many times have we heard those words? 
How many times have we seen them printed on Christmas cards? 
How many times have we repeated them? 
 
These words contain three promises that are directly connected with the coming of Christ to the earth:
  1. Glory to God in the Highest.
  2. Peace on Earth.
  3. Goodwill Toward Men. 
 
Unfortunately, it’s hard to find "peace on earth” and “goodwill among men” nowadays. If you want to know what’s wrong with the world, look in the mirror. The problem is you, the problem is me, the problem is all of us together.
 
There is no peace on earth because we are not peace-loving people. We are filled with anger, hate, lust, and greed.
 
We were made for glory, but our glory faded a long time ago. First, we disobeyed, then we died on the inside, then we started dying on the outside, then we turned to our own devices, then we said, “God, we don’t need you at all. Leave us alone!” And we wonder why the world is the way it is. Look in the mirror. “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
 
Is there such a thing as peace on earth? The answer is Yes. But the peace Jesus brings is not won around a conference table or at the point of a bayonet. His peace goes from heart to heart to heart. 
 
The angels’ message is true. There is such a thing as peace on earth and goodwill toward men. It comes when Jesus Christ comes into a life. 
 
Is it possible to have his peace at Christmastime? Yes, it is.

When Jesus enters your life, he will remove the hatred and bitterness, and he will redeem the hurts of the past.  
 
My prayer for you at Christmastime is that you might experience the peace that Jesus brings.
 
The glory of God shines forth from that manger in Bethlehem.
His glory still shines today.
One day his glory will fill the earth.
 
Holy Lord, come and fill us because we are empty without you. Shine through us and fill this dark world with your glory. Amen
 
Musical bonus: This familiar carol started in France, made its way to England, and eventually spread around the world. Let’s listen to The First Noel by Stars Go Dim.

Because of Jesus,
Ted

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