Luke 2:11-19
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
Can you even imagine what Joseph and Mary were thinking as they saw their baby lying in the manger? What was going through their minds? What all was she pondering in her heart?
You moms and dads out there, what goes through your head as you are holding that newborn babe in the hospital or at home? Do you thank God for the chance to raise a warrior for Jesus Christ? Or do you think about how much money this kid is going to cost? Are you excited the moment you get that first call from a teacher that the young one is messing up in school? Do you sit there and hug each other and say, I can’t wait until we can go and visit him in prison!
How did they raise Jesus? What did they teach Him as a young man? It is actually pretty simple to figure out:
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
You see, they wanted their child to serve the Most High God, so they taught Him all about Him during His younger years. They had the promises of God, but they were still making sure He was going to turn out well in this world. Now we know Jesus was going to turn out just fine, but I just know that Mary and Joseph also raised their other children this way, as well.
Anyone a little sick and tired of seeing thugs across our TV screens all the time? Thugs who steal from stores; thugs who attack police; thugs who have no respect for their parents or for the law. I have a simple question: What was their home life like? How were they raised? Did their parents give them the Deuteronomy 6 treatment? Were they even raised with both of their parents in the same home?
So are you training your kids with simple questions like: What did you hear at school today or work that was unbiblical? What did you hear at school or work today that was biblical? It keeps the training going on in their heads to think with a Biblical worldview. It is guarding and protecting their hearts from the evil that is lurking around every corner and sometimes right in our faces.
It is amazing as we look at our computers and our televisions, and we see all of this violence, yet what people really want is peace. By the way, that isn’t going to happen. Always be happy and excited when you have peace on all sides during seasons of your life, because those are just going to be seasons. It will not be your whole life.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
There will be some false peace coming sometime soon, too.
1 Thessalonians 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
True peace will never arrive until the Prince of Peace arrives in the end of days.
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
As a matter of fact, in the end of days when the Prince of Peace arrives on earth, people are still going to try and fight against Him!
Revelation 19:19
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Because of sin, people will want to rebel against the Lord all the way until the end.
Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Spend a lot of time with your kids and family. Teach everyone the Word of God. Don’t let them turn out to be thugs. They may choose to go that route in life, but do everything in your power to prevent it.
Remember that there came a day when the manger was empty. There came a day when Jesus tomb was empty. There will come a day when your grave is empty, as well.There is going to be a day when there will finally be that peace we are all looking for when we can spend eternity side by side with the true Giver of peace, the Prince of Peace!!
Until the nets are full,
