{my graphics are free goodies for you}
We’ve read the story and know the scene. The unshowered shepherds with the wide-eyed flock around them. The shock then awe. The angels indescribable, declaring the good news. The star and the manger. The Baby and the hope.
Yes, I’ve read the story and yet this time one phrase keeps echoing in my heart: “Peace, goodwill toward men.” It seems peace and goodwill have sometimes been missing this year. They’ve gotten lost somewhere in the angry Facebook posts. The sides taken and lines drawn. The fists raised and the shouts heard.
When I see these words “peace, goodwill toward men” I feel a little homesick. The way we do when we have to spend Christmas far away in a place we weren’t ever intended to, where we really don’t belong. Because we are made for love. For grace. For understanding. For togetherness. For joy.
There’s a lot God could have chosen to say that night. He could have dealt with politics (which had their troubles then too). He could have made moral proclamations. He could have taken a tone like a ruler-tapping teacher and told us all to get our act together. But instead He blessed us. He spoke words of encouragement and hope.
What if the whole world did the same this Christmas? What if in this season we all put down our opinions and picked up grace? Shut our mouths and opened our doors. Pulled back our judgments and reached out our hands. Banished our angry words and brought out the welcome mat for kindness and mercy.
It’s scary, I know. Because it might seem as if everything will go wrong if we dare.
But if that’s what God chose to do, can’t we?
Sometimes we forget that Someone already came to save the world. That job has been taken. That task marked complete. It is not on our shoulders. And this is what Jesus told us will continue that mission: “A new commandment I give to you, love one another” (John 13:34).
Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.
It’s the good news of the first Christmas. It’s what we need so much more than one more angry Facebook post. More than another television tirade. More than fists and voices raised. And this good news hasn’t changed. So, Dear World, could it be time that we do?
Let’s make this Christmas all about love. Which is really just another way of saying let’s make it all about Jesus.
XOXO
Holley Gerth
– If it feels like “Peace on Earth” is for everyone but you, then here’s a free #MoreThanSmallTalk video about Hope When the Holidays are Hard. You may also want to check out the rest of the End the Year with Less Fear series.
– If you’d like a little extra encouragement {and a free ebook!}, you can subscribe to receive blog posts via email.
– If you’re looking for a study to do in 2017 you’ll be encouraged by The You’re Already Amazing LifeGrowth Guide.
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Welcome to the Coffee for Your Heart weekly link-up! You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday {link-up goes live at 5:30am CST}. Simply write an encouraging blog post and then share it here. Don’t have a blog? You can still write an encouraging comment. If you’re reading this by email, go to holleygerth.com to see all the fun and join in too.
Pretty please use this button in your blog post so others can easily join in with us {html code in right sidebar}. And when you link up your post, take a moment to leave an encouraging comment on the one that’s linked up just before yours. Thanks, friends!
I’m having Coffee For Your Heart with my friend Holley Gerth
{click to tweet that you’re joining me here today}
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