Devotional Thought from Ezekiel 34:11-31
Peace can be an illusive thing in this life. Conflict seems to be inscribed on our DNA. In fact, the Bible says that it is. What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? “Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?(James 4:1)” Our sin nature, what the Apostle Paul calls, “the flesh” causes conflict, quarrels, and war. It is important for us to realize however, that our primary war is not with other men. Our primary war, the one raging in all human hearts, is against God. The Apostle Paul, again, describes the human condition
“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”
~ Romans 1:28-32 ~
Yet God, after all our actions to the contrary, says in Ezekiel 34:25 that He is going to establish with us a “covenant of peace”. God ended the conflict. God resolved His justice. God initiated an end to the war. He did not send a general to conquer and destroy us, but he sent his only begotten son to save us. God became man, the incarnation, was the end of the war. Listen closely to the angels in Luke 2, and celebrate that there is now a “covenant of peace” between God and man, made by the God-man, Immanuel, Jesus Christ our Lord.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:8-14
Soli Deo Gloria
Readings for the Week of December 7th
Sunday December 7 Isaiah 2:1-5
Monday December 8 Isaiah 11:1-9
Tuesday December 9 Isaiah 54:11-17
Wednesday December 10 Ezekiel 34:11-31
Thursday December 11 Zechariah 8:9-17
Friday December 12 Psalm 85
Saturday December 13 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Carols for this week
O Little Town of Bethlehem performed by the St Louis Boys Choir
Silent Night performed by the American Boys Choir