The Lord is at Hand

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Philippians 4:4-7: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Lord in at Hand:
Did you realize that God, our Lord and Savior, is here with us, right now? God the Father is always with us. The evidence of His creating work is around us. The birth of people and animals, the exquisite design of all created things tells us that we could not have "evolved." Things of the world are too simple and too complex to "just happen." God the Son, Jesus the Christ, is always around us. Jesus Himself tells us, "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there with them." Jesus and His saving grace, saving us from sin, death, and the influence of Satan, is here in our lives. And God the Holy Spirit is with us in all the words written down in the Holy Bible. He continues to talk to us through the Word, reminding us of the Word of God who was made flesh who dwelt among us. God the Holy Spirit continues to lead us in the direction that He wants us to go.

Why Don't We See Him?
It's because, for the most part, we are not looking for Him. For example, all the hub bub of the season, the meals, the presents, decorations, and the "programs" just to name a few, keep us from seeing Jesus and His salvation. Craziness and motion keep us from the realness of Jesus.

Slow Down:
Why don't we slow down a little bit? Let's take some time to reflect and renew. Let's take a moment to look at all that God has made. Let's take a moment to breathe and look at Jesus and all that He did. Let us look at Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Let us look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Let us take a step back and be reminded by the Holy Spirit through His Word about the shepherds who left the defenseless flocks and went to go see Jesus. Let us ponder the Wise Men, who left their work and take at least two years to follow the Christ Star to Bethlehem and Jesus. 

Then Rejoice!
As the reality of the life of God, the grace and mercy that He continues to pour out upon you and your family. Be filled with the joy that only God gives to you. Allow God to calm your minds and relieve your stress, anxiety, and challenges. Rejoice and be at peace.

THE LORD IS AT HAND!

---