Volume 7, Issue 51
“No man has a more perfect reliance on the alwise, powerful dispensations of the Supreme Being than I have nor thinks his aid more necessary.”
George Washington, letter to
William Gordon, May 13,1776
General Washington knew the challenge he faced. Only by hope in purpose, faith in principles, and joy in sacrifice, as composite commitments to trust in the Lord, was he able to be obedient to his call. Our Founding Father exemplified and manifested in his character the biblical essence of the first three seasons of Advent.
By relying upon God, believing in His Providence, and determining to be obedient, he experienced the fourth acknowledgment of Advent…Peace.
Christmas is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. The prophets of the Old Testament had declared that a Savior would be born in Bethlehem. This promise fulfilled was not only glorious news, but a time of celebration to rejoice. Why? Because it attested to the hope personified that two more promises of the Christ would occur. He would die for all sins and be resurrected.
That promise has also been fulfilled.
The third promise is yet to be realized. His birth, life, death and resurrection give credence to the faith of Christianity that the third promise fulfilled is an assurance. He is seated at the right hand of the Lord. He will come again to judge the living and the dead, and His Kingdom will have no end. It is this Kingdom that Christians seek, not power, wealth, or position in this system of things.
In the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers stated that all men are created equal. They emphasized unalienable rights. But they also meant equal in the eyes of God. Each person has a defined purpose in the overall Greater Purpose. In God’s eyes, each of us is equal in our overall contribution to the eternal plan for His Kingdom. If we would only look at things through God’s eyes, we would affirm for ourselves that all people are equal in their individual purpose for Kingdom purpose. By believing that we are equal in purpose, then we receive and accept each other as equal.
That in which we must have confidence is God’s Providence. Trust and obedience to God’s call on our lives is all that we must be concerned about to realize fulfillment in God’s plan of destiny. Trust and obedience are under our control. The rest is up to God. In believing that God is omnipotent, we have faith that all things work for the good of those who believe in God.
In this confidence of belief, we realize eternal peace.
Jesus Christ was called Emmanuel “God is with us.” After His resurrection, the Holy Spirit entered the earth as helper and connector to the Father and Son. Therefore, Christ is still among us in our hearts. Christians count on God’s direction through prayer for each season of their lives. The natural is transformed to the spiritual by the sacrifice of obedience. We are made one with the Father through Christ by grace. One’s purpose is enhanced through obedience.
God is not with our natural life while we pamper it; but when we put it out in the desert and resolutely keep it under, then God will be with it; and He will open up wells and oases, and fulfill all His promises for the natural.
Oswald Chambers
In this season of our nation’s history, may our prayers of peace be for each of us and our country. The fourth verse of “O come, O come, Emmanuel” is our song of hope.
O come, desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid thou our sad divisions cease,
And be for us the King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Through hope in purpose, faith in principle, and joy in the sacrifice of obedience may we find peace transcendent in the confidence that Jesus Christ will return, and the Kingdom we seek will have no end.
May the peace of Christ be with you, now and forever.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?