Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Sheep Pen Front Row Seats

There are a few groups that I will pay to see up close on stage and many more that I’m fine with sitting up in the nose bleed section and just listening.  But for those few, I want to see every detail, every movement as well as hear each note. 
I can just imagine the shepherds, the angel came and they were terrified.  Then – just when the adrenaline levels start passing their peak, a whole bunch of angels appear!  “A great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel,” (Luke 2:13).  I wonder just what a great company is. Was it fifty, a hundred, three hundred, nine hundred, a thousand, ten thousand?  Can you imagine the brilliance of the light and sound as the praise was given to God, reflecting His glory? 
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14)

Glory first, peace second, favor third – did you notice the order? 
Glory is first – putting God first in all things.  A great strategy that enables and empowers us to grow, reach, change, strive, and continue seeking through God’s grace.  This is a time of reflection.  Not reflection as in a mirror bouncing light, but more like a prism that is shined on and then is a tool for that light to make a beautiful rainbow of color.  If we focus on God’s glory, we focus on being clear for God to use us as a tool – His tool. 
Second is peace on earth to men.  Sorry ladies, I promise that this is not a chauvinistic maxim; men as in mankind.  If I look at the news, which I don’t really do to often, it is full of everything and anything but peace.  There are wars, innuendo, rumors, politics, fights, feuds – it just seems to go on and on.  But, this century really isn’t anything different, so where is that peace?  Well – it’s because peace is number two in the statement, not the finishing line.  God’s peace is really three fold.  One is the peace that as a child of God we can have, the peace that “passes understanding.”  This is an internal peace, deep down, which is not changed by our daily trials and endeavors.  The second part of peace is that which comes as a promise when we are in heaven and with God.  Imagine that peace!  It’s not a boring, laissez faire type of peace; this is peace with action and movement.  Finally, there is a peace after Jesus comes again – and restores God’s creation.  Peace on earth indeed, won’t that be amazing to witness.  I long for the day that amber alerts, terror alerts, and news alerts have become a dark part of the past; when the ultimate war has had it’s final skirmish fought; when the foot soldiers are finally called home and healed completely.
The third part is the one which really applies to the peace on earth to men on whom his favor rests.  Can you think of who this might apply to?  Perhaps an Old Testament patriarch, an ancient queen who saved her people, a modern day hero or heroine, a loved one, a personal mentor, the list could go on and on.  God’s favor resting, the wrap of favor round that person’s shoulders, is such a comforting and beautiful thought.  What does favor mean though?  David might have expressed it best in the Psalms.  Swept up into uncertain times, facing difficult and dangerous situations favor described by David was “God making the mountain standing firm, rejoicing afresh after the difficult nights are over, it is healing, being spared, and being lifted from the depths”.    
Christmas is only a few days away – are you a crystal prism?  Have you experienced God’s peace?  Have you sought God’s favor?  Are you sitting in the front row enjoying the spectacular praise offering of the heavenly host or hanging out in the nose bleed section? 

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