A Magnificent Provision

I bring you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

The Gold Standard is, well, the Gold Standard. Being worth your weight in gold would make one quite wealthy (and for once that pesky B.M.I. would be a positive). There’s also owning a boatload of Apple stock or a prime lot of sand in Abu Dhabi or membership in Augusta National; each would signify impressive wealth. Personally having none of the above I can only guess that all of the sand in Abu Dhabi would not bring the level of inner peace all of us crave. The next time I run into a Sheik on his way to Augusta to play a round of golf with his Apple dividend check I’ll inquire, but for now I’m sticking to my belief that nothing obtainable on this planet will provide the type of peace people tend to chase.

If Blaise Pascal is right and we do indeed have a God-sized hole in our lives that can only be filled with God’s Spirit we will never know true, authentic, Biblical, lasting peace, until we allow God to indwell our souls. This is the gist of John 14:27, “I leave behind with you-peace; I give you my own peace and my gift is nothing like the peace of this world.” This is so very true. The world, aka life, gives us fleeting peace and truth be told, each of us can manufacture a temporary peace in a variety of ways. The “peace that surpasses all human understanding” can only be gained in and through a personal relationship with God. This may sound trite but God ordained our peace, Jesus delivered it and made it possible, and the Spirit of God sustains it. The type of peace Jesus left behind for us to embody is literally at our beck and call. It’s amazing (isn’t grace always?) to imagine that the most sought after commodity in the world is so close and so accessible?

So as we continue our journey through the Advent season let’s celebrate the peace that God began in and through the Christ Child. God’s magnificent provision means He ordained for us to have a unique peace that makes life joyful and significant no matter what is thrown our way. And even though one should never begin a sentence with and, this time it’s worth the error, And it all began with a baby, the baby we celebrate this month, God’s most magnificent provision.

Father, we give you praises for your belief in us that truly transcends all of our abilities to comprehend. You loved us in advance and provided for our spiritual needs by sending Jesus. This amazingly magnificent provision makes our new lives possible. We did not deserve this gift but it is a gift that deserves sharing. May we commit to doing just that as we celebrate Advent. May Jesus be lifted up and peace be spread. Amen and Amen.

Michael McCullar
Formations Pastor
Johns Creek Baptist Church