GREENE STREET LETTERS: Opps...They Got It Wrong!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Opps...They Got It Wrong!

Did you ever notice that people sometimes attribute things to Scripture that really aren't found in the Bible?
My favorite is "God helps those who help themselves." A nice platitude but nowhere to be found in the Bible.
Another one that I find interesting, especially this time of year, is "Peace on earth, good will to men." Peace on this planet has long been a dream that has dwelt in the heart of mankind. Some hold tight this thought of all men and women living together in peace, but sinful hearts will never allow this dream to come true.

The phrase "Peace on earth, good will to men" isn't found in Scripture.
If you read what it actually says (Luke 2:14) you'll find that it reads "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased. In other words, those whose hearts are given to God, whose lives become reflections of Christ at work in them, are called to receive the peace of God here in the middle of this fallen world. Such a strange interaction that the peace of God would dwell among the chaos and darkness of the Kingdom of Satan.

If you look back to Exodus, you'll see that God did the same thing to the Israelites who dwelt in the land of Goshen. Here we had an entire people in slavery surrounded by the decadence and paganism of Egypt, yet God placed his hand of covering over them and kept them safe. It doesn't matter where you are this morning.
You may be living in a dysfunctional family that would fill the record books with their antics, God will cover you in the middle of the chaos and pain and give to you peace. Not necessarily peace that would change your situation, but peace that would take you through anything you might find yourself facing. Peace that would keep you heart, spirit and body and impart to you strength to face whatever comes your way. That is the Peace my God is able to pour out on those whose hearts are committed to Him.

So while the world tries to offer a pseudo-peace during this Christmas season, let the real-deal God give you the real thing. Don't accept imitations or knock-offs when it comes to peace. Let it permeate every area of your life today. Walk in it! Live in it! And let God receive the glory due Him.
Merry Christmas from the Bynum's!

God on you.....
Michael & Vicki

2 comments:

Jason Knight said...: Good message!; December 5, 2011 at 6:58 PM
Greene Street Letters said...: Thanks Jason. It was so good to see you and catch up with you. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Michael b.; December 6, 2011 at 6:18 AM

Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Opps...They Got It Wrong!

2 comments:

THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD