As the time of year we celebrate Jesus' birth ends, let's keep in mind that for Christians, the Christmas season should last all year long. It should actually last all year long for the world too, if they would only receive the gift of life that Jesus came to give.
Mostly though, the world only recognizes the Baby in a manger. The precious gift of peace that God sent only becomes the reason for stress as the world struggles to purchase toys and gifts for friends and loved ones. Truly, Christmas is the time of giving, but so is every other day. Christmas should be the time for giving, loving and forgiving.
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and we were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift." Verse 17 says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ."
Many Christians fail to believe their salvation goes beyond just going to heaven when they die. Others believed in the forgiveness of their sins, but aren't always secure in that promise. Some looked at it as more rules, laws and regulations they must adhere to.
For those who will delve into God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to direct them, it is a treasure chest of gifts to be opened and explored daily in our new lives.
Jesus is the "Prince of Peace," according to Isaiah 9:6. To all who will receive it, this peace or shalom is God's peace through Jesus. This shalom comes with the eradication of sin and the gift of righteousness. Once we understand this, we can enjoy "shalom" with God.
And, to those who will believe, shalom or peace means so many things if we will only dare believe the truth and grace that came through Jesus on our behalf. Many of us constantly feel unworthy and unclean before God. As long as we continue in this attitude, we can never enjoy the shalom of our new covenant. And, because we've tried so hard to be perfect in our own selves, we know more about our imperfections than about His peace.
According to Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified), "Grace is a gift from the Father. This gift is Jesus. We are saved by grace, through faith (which is also a gift from God in Jesus). The only requirement for us is for us to REST.
Grace is a gift that we didn't deserve. You don't work to receive it, otherwise it wouldn't be a gift. Shalom, the peace of God, is Jesus Himself according to John 14:27 (Amplified) which says, Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Jesus said, "His Own peace I now give you." The peace He is speaking about is the peace between God and Him and like we have His righteousness, we also have His peace. Matter of fact, everything we have is His, including His life, His righteousness, His Name, His place with the Father, His authority, His Spirit and His peace. The only thing we have is our body and that was purchased by His Blood. For some reason, we are still looking at "us and God" instead of understanding that it is "Him and the Father." If we will simply understand we are "in Him," then everything He is, we are. The peace or shalom that we have is His peace. We always fail when trying to manufacture peace in ourselves.
We read in 2Peter 1:2-3 (Amplified), "May grace (God's favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in (the full, personal, precise and correct) knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." Verse 3 says, "For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that (are requisite and suited) to life and Godliness, through the (full, personal) knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His Own glory and excellence (virtue)."
The more we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us in "full and precise knowledge," the more we can understand and walk in His Shalom. This peace or "shalom" pertains to everything about us, "including healing, health, prosperity, peace of mind (a sound mind), right-standing, completeness, wholeness, soundness, now and throughout eternity" according to Strong's Concordance.
And, because we've neglected to delve into and further unwrap the Christmas gift (like excited children on Christmas morning), we have missed so much more that God has already given us. As we study God's shalom, we will open up the gift of Jesus into our lives. Grace and peace are sent as salutations to the early Church in nearly every Epistle in the New Testament. This salutation is so important that it is repeated in each and every letter. If this peace isn't received into the heart of a believer, then we will continue to live in fear and condemnation of the world and the old man. Dis-ease in our walk with the Father will result in disease in our natural bodies.
If we will turn loose of the old guilt and condemnation, then we can enter into the peace or shalom the Father has for His family. When Jesus was born, God's angels came and declared to all who would believe, "God has declared His peace (Shalom) to all mankind if only they would believe and receive it." This peace is a direct result of the removal of sin and trespass by Jesus. When we finally come to the conclusion that "my sin and iniquity He remembers no more," then we can walk in peace.
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