In Those Days

By Joe Keim

September 1, 2022

At church, we read together and learned about:

              in those days

              in our days

              in the last days

In Luke 2:1, we read:

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”

In those days, God had been silent for 400 years - about six generations. The government was overpopulated and out of control. Taxes were high. Man-made religion had crept in and taken over. God was put on the top shelf, almost out of reach. 

So long as the common man submitted to the government and religious authorities, obeyed their long list of do’s and don’ts, and lived in their box, life crept on and everybody appeared good.

Outwardly, people seemed to have it all together, but inwardly, people were struggling. They were filled with anxiety, frustration, and discouragement. Life was dull. Empty. Meaningless.

But then it happened! Bursting forth out of thin air, an angel appeared to the shepherds. The glory of the Lord lit up the entire area, and the shepherds saw what appeared to be a multitude of heavenly hosts. They were praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14)

Peace on earth! That was their message.  Peace to all.

This was not temporary worldly peace, which so many are seeking for in our day. It was God's peace. The kind of peace that passes all understanding, fills your cup until it overflows, relieves you of all anxiety, frustration, and discouragement. It is the kind of peace that calms your body, your mind, and your spirit. It supersedes all earthly circumstances, builds your confidence in God, and allows you to experience God's eternal rest to the fullest. 

Jesus said:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

My friend, let me tell you something.  It does not matter how wicked and corrupt the world has become in our day. You can rest in perfect peace. God does not want you to live in fear. He wants you to trust Him. 

Will you please consider the words of Jesus?  Let’s read it.

“Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26).

May the Peace of God flood your soul and wash away all your discouragement, frustrations, and anxiety today!  You are in God's hands. Trust Him. He will never let you down. Never!

 

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