Strategic Renewal

Recently a friend shared a remarkable story that delivered an insightful lesson.  It was told to him by his friend.  Let’s call the storyteller “Jay.”

One day while enjoying the great outdoors, Jay witnessed an eagle as it swooped down suddenly and then immediately rose into the sky with an unsuspecting prey in its talons.  Suddenly, the eagle fell from the sky, thrashing about as it sped toward the ground.  Curious about what he had seen, Jay hiked to the spot where the eagle had landed.

Coming upon the scene, he discovered the eagle dead, with its chest ripped open.  Locked in his talons was a weasel that decided to fight back.  Using its sharp claws the weasel attacked its captor.  Both fell to their death.

In commenting about the scene, Jay said, “Stupid eagle.  Why didn’t it just let go of the weasel?”  In response to Jay’s account, my friend said to him, “Jay, you are the eagle.” Jay had been struggling for many months with bitterness over a family break-up.  The story served as a riveting reminder of the foolishness of holding on to disappointment, conflict, and anger.

Emancipating Truth

The message of Christmas brings powerful emancipating truth to those engaged in the destructive downward spin and sin of bitterness.  Far too many holiday celebrations are convoluted by conflict, poisoned by past hurts, and ruined by unresolved regret.  When we hold on to these dangerous emotions we choose an existence and outcome that is debilitating and destructive.

The message of the heavenly angels, relaying the purpose and plan of God to the bewildered shepherds, resounded, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  (Luke 2:14).  Through the coming of Christ, God is bringing the highest glory to Himself through His promises of peace among those “with whom He is well pleased” (the more accurate translation in various versions).  This is not a general command of “goodwill” toward any and all men, although the Gospel message always brings good into the world.  Rather it is the promise of God’s peace – with Himself and one another, for those who believe the Gospel promise.  The Prophet Micah spoke of this reality hundreds of years earlier, declaring that the Messiah “...shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD...And he shall be their peace” (Micah 5:4-5).

Prevailing Peace

When we come to know the truth and forgiveness of Christ, His prevailing peace becomes the promised reality of our hearts.  Isaiah 9:6 foretold Messiah with the title, “Prince of Peace.”  This peace and goodwill, available through the person of Christ, are indeed at the core of the “good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” as the angels declared.  They exclaimed, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).  When the Savior and Lord rules hearts, peace, goodwill, and great joy prevail.

These biblical reminders help us embrace the kind of Christmas that will glorify God and bring us into a full experience of Christ’s peace in the next week:

• Because we have been “justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
• Our hearts should not be troubled because Jesus gives us a peace far beyond what the world can offer (John 14:27).
• Through Christ, we have been reconciled to God and are now the “righteousness of God” – messengers through whom He is reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
• We have the indwelling Spirit, whose character is peace (Galatians 5:16), and know that to be “spiritually minded is life and peace” (Roman 8:6).
• We know that “God is not the author of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33).
• We can “let the peace of God rule” in our hearts, resulting in unity and gratitude in our relationships (Colossians 3:15).
• We know that the evidence of wisdom and right living is “sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18).
• We are to strive to live in peace with everyone, living in the full experience of God’s grace, which delivers us from the destructive and defiling impact of a bitter heart (Hebrews 12:14-15).
• We remember that Paul blessed the church with “grace and peace” so often because we desperately need it and the Lord generously gives it.

Time to Let Go

There is no better time than the Christmas season to “let go” of the destructive emotions we foolishly embrace, always to our own demise.  As I often note, “Bitterness is the poison we drink, expecting the other person to die.” The Prince of Peace is willing and powerful to deliver us from the burden of bitterness.  

We often do not want to forgive because it is our attempt to somehow maintain control of the emotions that can be so painful.  But, like the eagle, we are clutching the very thing that will destroy us.

Because of the forgiveness we experienced in Christ, and the power of His Spirit in us, we can “put away” all “bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking” and can instead“be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” (Ephesians 4:31-32).  As we make this choice, it is good to remember that “forgiveness does not make the other person right, it just makes us free.”

Live in Heavenly Peace

The nostalgic Christmas song appeals to the newborn child, “Sleep in heavenly peace.”  More importantly, we should fully embrace the message of the angels so that we can “live in heavenly peace” as we release bitterness and soar like eagles were meant to soar, renewing our strength in Christ (Isaiah 40:31).

Copyright © 2011 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.