Did they face harassment because of what they spoke? Did they encounter some unbelief of what they saw and shared? Scripture tells us that all those who heard it marveled at those things which the shepherds told the people.
Luke 2: 13-15 & suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God & saying:14 “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."
Luke 2:17-18 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely
known the saying which was told them concerning the Child. 18 and all those who
heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
We cannot
give goodwill to another if we have no goodwill towards God. That is, we each
must have peace with God. Many proclaim Christianity but are far from Him, know
nothing about Him and yet speak of a place with Him. But their mouths speak of
decay, death , lack, they speak despair, and of loneliness. They speak love, but the love they carry has nothing to do with God for God is love! You ask them about
heaven, and they mention they are going! But they speak nothing about Him Who is the way,
and the truth and the life! They give no words that He gave about His going back to the Father as seen in Scripture! (John 16:16-17)
Goodwill
for others is cooperating with God in other people’s welfare. It is having the
same kind of benevolence God has toward us as believer’s. We are here to encourage others in His Word
and by prayer. When meeting with someone either from the workplace, from church
or maybe a neighbor, we are to remember that “iron sharpens iron.” And it is
for that which is purposed for their life. In giving someone the word of God is
for that purpose for which God has placed in them and to help them grow!
We met someone new on Sunday of the last week. He told us he had been reading diligently Hebrews 11 the Hall of Faith chapter. And we regarded that as instruction to us that we too should keep on that walk in the Hall of Faith!
Yeah, an
angel might not appear, and the brilliant light may not be seen! The magnitude of angels singing in chorus the praise of God may not be heard, but there will
be within the speaking that gentle nudge given by the Holy Spirit. You will hear
Him speak, “you can do this!” "You can read this and learn something." In the warmth of the words spoken, one can then
move toward their future. Still others, the word can be loud and demonstrably
resounding with that word "NO, don’t do that"! It can come loud and strong, like a bull in a china cabinet, still when someone is in danger the Father will speak to His child to rescue them. But many only want that soft gentle
word and not the corrective one. Many want their flesh stroked and keep heading
down a roadway with signs in the ditch reading: DEAD END!
But our Father does not want us to learn the hard way, you know attending the School of Hark Knocks. It it that place many attend yearly, gaining only worldly wisdom and defeat! But for you and I, we are to study and know God's Word to stay out of mistakes by the wicked or the foolish!
God still speaks but do we listen and obey! Do we go about our business or His business? Are we grateful for what God has given to us in this life? For many of us, He gave us parents ( a father and a mother), He gave us good health, a home, He has given us teachers to teach the word of God, He has given us opportunities to work in earning a paycheck and become responsible citizens. We have been given the opportunity for long life in Him and do we seize it?
We have been given opportunity to rise and give voice for Him when others appear downcast and lost! We have been given mentors who give guidance by God’s word, to be the responsible and to teach others to do the same: BE RESPONSIBLE!
But being responsible is in that which is of God: His truth, His justice and His righteousness. It is not beating people up with mere men's words to get an agenda in place for some man's benefit. So persecution is evident when you have someone trying to push their agenda on you when there is no place for it.
Many a wealthy person has used their wealth as a tool to harass others. And our Father God knows those who are the oppressed today! Persecution comes from those with thorns. And sometimes you might seem to be in a briar patch with some stinging going on when pricked on the skin, but in the reality you are encountering those who are without God! Obedience is what is required for following the Lord.
He has given us purpose and it is for His glory to be sent out in His power. And as you go out be cautious of what you might submit to or bow down to. Scripture tells us to Submit to God....resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) We are to be actively resisting the enemy as we submit to God. The devil has to be reminded of what God actually said. So we speak God's word back to the devil like Jesus spoke to him as well! No, we do not carry on a conversation with the enemy but we do put him in his place.
In our sphere of influence: you and I will carry Jesus….He is “I Am” & He is in our midst. God is personal, living, active, all-knowing, all-wise, and all-powerful. By faith we can proclaim boldly that honoring God is more important than the praise of men or from men! As I write this I have the grateful heart towards our Father in all His goodness. I am so grateful to HIM for all He has given to us through His Son. I am thankful to be alive in this moment of history to declare the Lord to many. I am thankful for the loving family He has placed around me to encourage and tell me to never give up! For we have hope in Jesus. He is the anchor of our soul! I am thankful for all of you that I can encourage you in this day and within this moment of time. I may not know your face but He knows your name.
In that we have hope as we look forward with a desire, we look forward with a confidence that God is on the scene and the expectation of our heart is that God is not done with us yet. I am encouraged that my life is not going to be cut short by something that is not God honoring.
No, the end is not yet, not for those faith people. For we, the faithful, look toward 2022. Our heads are raised high, and our body’s submit to the strength of God…to rise at His command. Like many, we faith people are the committed to God's plan, that purpose He set forth in the Beginning. (Genesis 1) His Son appeared, and it was declared Who He was. And as Jesus told them to go, we too, go in His name. We go into the business arena, into the marketplace, into the daycare, into diaper changes, public meetings, and school board meetings to display Jesus in our hearts! We write letters to the Editors and tell many of the truth that God has for those who love Him. WE give the Gospel to those who require a Savior Who is Christ the Lord!
For telling others of God’s word or even of Jesus’ return should not intimidate us. No, we have the Holy Spirit residing on the inside of us. The same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is ever present. Encountering the public, a person appearing as one big thorn may give an insult or despise us because we are people of faith. They may try to cancel us, but they do not have the last word on it. They may act and stick like a thorn, but God loves them and we give them over to God. He our Father has the last word and He speaks it best!
He may not send angels to sing a song or give the praise He surely deserves but He does know my name and yours as well. He knows the hairs on our heads, not sure why, but He cares. And He gave us His truth where justice resides in the depths of His love.
For Scripture
reminds us that when insulted or despised ……what is proven in truth is that the
Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you and I! ( 1 Peter 4:14)
And that to me is the answer to God being honored by our lives! Amen!
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
Desiring God or Idols
Weighing the Hearts
