Advent Devo: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Do you hear what I hear?

Christmas music playing on every radio station.

"Its the most wonderful time of the year!"

Sermons every week on the coming birth of Jesus.

"The birth of Jesus is the answer God gives to a world locked in fear and darkness!"

The crazy thing is that, though we are submerged in music declaring that Peace has come, Love is here. That even the song for which I have titled this post declares these lyrics, "Pray for peace, people everywhere!"...

...I am instead surrounded with just the opposite.

Friends, let us not get sucked in to the hatred, fear, and hurt that so many people are sprawling on TV, in newspapers, or on social media. Instead, remember the songs we sing. The words we preach. The Scriptures we hold so high.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

-Romans 14:17-19 NIV

For the rest of 2016 will you join me in obeying the command of the King to "Pray for Peace, people everywhere!"?

Perhaps, I am just naive enough to still believe that there is power when God's people come together in agreement on something. I pray that I never lose that. And perhaps, maybe, that is exactly what God is yearning for His people to do? Perhaps God has the perfect answer for the torment that is the Middle East ISIS crisis. Perhaps God knows exactly what will heal the fear that surrounds the Refugee Crisis. Perhaps... God still answers every situation with Himself.

He is, the Prince of Peace, after all. We say we believe that, will you join me in praying it?

"The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light!"

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Nathan Bryant

is a pastor in East Orlando, FL. He loves the outdoors, whether it is camping in the mountains or jumping through the waves at the beach, nothing is better than enjoying God’s creation. Nathan longs for unity and commitment to Jesus to be a defining element in the global church of his generation.

Christ's Kingdom is bigger than our causes.

Christ's Kingdom is bigger than our boundaries.

Follow him on Twitter: Follow @nathanpbryant

Nathan's Website