{"id":1386,"date":"2010-12-26T01:46:54","date_gmt":"2010-12-26T01:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2010\/12\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-peace-on-earth.html"},"modified":"2010-12-26T01:46:54","modified_gmt":"2010-12-26T01:46:54","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-peace-on-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2010\/12\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-peace-on-earth.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Peace on Earth!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Peace on Earth!<\/h1>\n
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Luke 2:8-14<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n“Glory to God in highest heaven,
\n     and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”<\/p>\n

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\n<\/div>\n
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\n<\/div>\n
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Luke 2:14<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\nMerry Christmas!<\/p>\n

Yes, I know it’s the day after Christmas. But many Christians think of Christmas, not as a day, but as a season. Yes, in fact it is a twelve-day season beginning on December 25th. Thus, it’s appropriate to say “Merry Christmas” even though Christmas Day has passed.\t<\/p>\n

During the holiday season, we often encounter the phrase “Peace on
\nEarth.” It shows up in popular songs such as “I Heard the Bells on
\nChristmas Day.” It appears on banners and Christmas cards. And, of
\ncourse, we hear it read in church as part of the nativity story in Luke.<\/p>\n

\tOn the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, an
\nangel appeared to shepherds who were watching their sheep in the nearby
\nfields. The angel announced the birth of the Savior, the Messiah. He
\ntold the shepherds that they would find the baby in a manger, a feed
\ntrough for animals, of all places. All of a sudden, a multitude of
\nangels gathered, praising God with these now famous words: “Glory to God
\nin highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is
\npleased” (2:14).<\/p>\n

\tNotice that the angels celebrate peace on earth. At first, this
\nsounds a bit different from the peace that we so often associate with
\nJesus: peace between us and God, peace in our hearts. Indeed, through
\nthe saving work of Christ, we can have peace with God and we can
\nexperience the peace “which exceeds anything we can understand” (Phil
\n4:7).<\/p>\n

\tYet Christ came to bring an ever more expansive and inclusive peace.
\nHis mission was to establish the shalom of God. This is more than inner
\npeace. It is more than the cessation of war. It is even more than
\nreconciliation between us and God. The peace of Christ includes all of
\nthese and more. It envisions a cosmos governed by God in which all
\nrelationships are fully loving and just. This shalom is centered in a
\nright relationship with God, and it touches everything else in life.<\/p>\n

\tAs we celebrate the birth of Jesus today, may we enjoy the peace we
\nhave with God through Christ. And may we be given a foretaste of the
\npeace on earth that is yet to come.<\/p>\n

\tQUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:<\/strong> In what parts of your life would you like to experience God’s peace?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

\nPRAYER:<\/strong> All praise be to you, O God, because you came to dwell among us in Jesus.<\/p>\n

\tAll praise be to you, O God, because you have come to give us your peace.<\/p>\n

\tAll praise be to you, O God, because you have opened up the way for me to experience peace with you.<\/p>\n

\tAll praise be to you, O God, because you give me peace when my heart is troubled.<\/p>\n

\tAll praise be to you, O God, because you are in the process of establishing your peace on earth.<\/p>\n

\tMay the celebration of the angels fill our hearts today:<\/p>\n

\t“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
\n     and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”<\/p>\n

\tAmen<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\tP.S. from Mark<\/strong>
\nIf you’re looking for a fuller biblical understanding of God’s peace, let me point you to a blog series I have written called: Seeking the Peace of Christ<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/p>\n

Here’s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling<\/i> is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Peace on Earth! Luke 2:8-14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,      and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14 Merry Christmas! Yes, I know it’s the day after Christmas. But many Christians think of Christmas, not as a day, but as a season. Yes, in fact it is a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[195,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christmas","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Peace on Earth! - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1386\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}