God Love Story

Ephesian 1:18-19, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

The Scripture tells us that Satan is a “thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy,” John 10:10. But we need to recognize just how weak his power really is. When we think about the opposite of darkness, it’s light.

The opposite of good is evil. When asked to name the opposite of God, people say Satan. But that’s not true. Michael, the archangel, is Satan’s opposite. Satan is finite; God is infinite. God has no equal.

Satan and God do not engage in hand-to-hand combat, with Satan sometimes getting the edge. That’s Star Wars.

(Randy Alcorn).

This Christmas, with all the craziness going on in the world, all the threats of wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6), don’t let the thief, Satan, steal your joy. Granted, it might not hurt to buy grocery gift cards for your family members as presents this year. Who wouldn’t see that as a great gift with the cost of food these days? And it never hurts to be more prepared. But Christ’s gift is to trust that God is in charge. And as long as we follow Him, we will be prepared for anything. Luke tells us that Jesus came “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” Luke 1:79.

This season, I encourage you to sit by a manger scene, view the gentle Jesus resting in a manger, and know that He is a powerful God who came to take care of things so you don't have to. Don’t let the thief steal your peace this season or any season for that matter.

The baby in a manger may look tiny and fragile, but as you view Him there, read these words from Paul and rest in Christ’s peace and His power. Ephesians 1:19-23, The Message, “I ask… the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, with no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, and has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”

Pastor: Linda Newton