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THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23,2023 | A5 Christmas love offers humanity a peace treaty with God T he theater ofwar is not where one expects to find love expressed. Regard less, late on Christmas Eve 1914, one of the most incredible acts of love was forged. While there have been many apocryphal stories about the Christmas Truce of 1914, what is essential is that we remember that some soldiers did, indeed, form such a truce. A group from the British Expe ditionary Force heard German soldiers singing Christmas carols opposite them. Soon, messages of goodwill began to be exchanged. The following day, some British and German troops exchanged gifts, played football, CHUCK HARTMAN and even took photo graphs together. While fighting and casual ties were reported that Christmas, off in a nar row, muddy, danger ous stretch known as “No Man’s Land,” a tiny cease-fire occurred. When Christmas was over, both sides returned to combat; however, the seeds oflove were sown. Despite military officials on both sides attempting to prevent such a truce from ever happen ing again, the Christmas Truce of 1914 led to what would be known as the “Live and Let Live” system. At certain times, not merely Christmas, along quiet sectors of the front line, brief pauses were quietly arranged to allow the Germans and English time to gather and grieve their dead, make repairs, and reorga nize. Romans 5:10 states that while we were God’s enemy, Christ came to bring love so we could enjoy an enduring truce between God and humanity. The love of Christmas is this: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. Christmas love was born in a humble manger. Christmas love brought hope to the hope less, healing to the hurting, and forgiveness to the offender. Christmas love brought a truce and offered humanity a peace treaty with God. The greatest gift you can ever receive is Jesus’ Christmas love — Jesus doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. Our best effort of righteousness and our most vital hope of extending an olive branch to God was futile in His sight. Christina Rossetti documented this best: “Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine, Love was born at Christ mas, Star and Angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine, Worship we our Jesus, But where with for sacred sign? Love shall be our token, Love be yours, and love be mine, Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign.” We were God’s enemies, yet He loved us so that He made the way — through Christ Jesus — for us to find our way home to Him. God made the way for our sin debt to be paid in full. God made a way for us to know His peace and be at peace with Him. It was in the person of the Savior born so long ago. This Christmas, receive His truce. Receive Christmas Love. Christmas love is the best because it lasts eternally. Merry Christ mas. Chuck Hartman, former pastor at UpRiver Friends Meeting Church, is the host of Friendly Connection, a weekly discipleship podcast. He can be reached at pastorchuck- hartman@gmail.com. GRACE &TRUTH Jesus came down from heaven to seek and save the lost T he Christmas story centers on the most significant gift ever given. Jesus Christ, the son of God, was born so that we may have eternal life in heaven. Jesus summed up the entire mission in Luke 19 when He told Zacchaeus, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” So poignant and praise-inducing is this state ment. Before I break down these significant words, I want to give you context. Jesus was traveling through Jericho. He recently had blessed children whom the apostles discouraged. Jesus also healed a blind man outside town who had been called down by those close to Jesus. Between the stories of the rich young ruler and the blind beggar, Jesus prayed for these children and told his dis ciples that the only way to enter the king dom was to seek it WEBB asachild HOGGARD would. The wee, lit tle man from Jericho also was discouraged by the crowd. He was too short to see Jesus, but Zacchaeus was not used to being told “no,” so he improvised. Luke tells us he ran toward Jesus and climbed a tree to see Him — just like a child would. The man in the tree was seeking Jesus, but Jesus informed him that He must go to his house. When we think we seek Jesus, He’s already looking for us. Jesus comes from heaven, from the Father’s right hand, from peaceful perfection to find you, even at your worst, and save you. All you must do is turn His way. Zacchaeus had a complete change of heart. For years, money had clouded his view of peace and righteousness, but when he met Jesus, he was utterly unfulfilled by money and vowed to give much of what he had away. Jesus was amazed by this rich man’s change ofheart. Indeed, salvation had come to the man’s entire house. When Jesus describes Himself in the last verse of this story, He mentions four meaningful words. First, He says He “came.” Jesus declares His divinity by stating that He came from another realm. He came from heaven and the Father. The second word was “seek.” Jesus came looking for us. He desires to hold you, love you and keep you. He’s not in another world, uncaring. Instead, He sees you and chases you down. He comes looking for you like He did with Adam in the garden. Jesus’ mission was to look for His people among all people. The third word is “save.” He not only cares about you and chases you down; He also is ready to redeem, heal and transform you. You may feel you have no future, but Jesus can change everything today! Know this: there is Hertford United Methodist Church 200 Dobbs Street, Hertford 252-426-5467 www.hertfordumc.org Rev. Tom Hallberg nothing that Jesus can’t fix. The last word is how he refers to us. The “lost” doesn’t just mean “wan dering.” It means someone headed for total destruc tion. It’s the same word John uses in John 3:16 to describe those who don’t believe in Jesus: “That none should perish, but have eternal life.” From God’s perspective, every one of us is headed for destruction, so Jesus came from heaven to search us out and transform our destruc tive lives. So, how do you respond to this kind of Savior? I think, like Zacchaeus, we seek the Lord. Like Zechariah, before Jesus was born, the shep herds the night He was born, and the wise men weeks after the baby was born, let’s seek Jesus, because He can change our fives forever. Too many miss Him because they won’t simply seek Him. Emanuel Webb Hoggard is Pastor of Askewville Assembly of God and a resident of Edenton. He can be reached via email at pastorwebb@ hotmail.com Why he’s the Prince of Peace “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, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlast ing Father, The Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6 S even hundred years before His birth, Isaiah predicted His coming. The verbal description in the verse mentioned above leaves no doubt he is speak ing of Jesus Christ, our redeemer. Feel the power con nected with those words, all in capital letters: Won derful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlast ing Father, The Prince of Peace! Matthew Henry wrote, “Christ broke the yoke of ceremonial law and deliv ered us out of the hand of our enemies, that we might serve him without fear. This is done by the Spirit working like fire, not as the battle ofthe warrior is fought with confused noise, but it is done with the Spirit ofjudgment and the Spirit of burning, by a work of God upon the hearts of men.” As we approach the sea son ofthe birth of Christ, let us reflect on the terms Isaiah used to introduce Him. Wonderful: fantas tic, tremendous, wondrous, extraordinarily good, or great. Counselor means advocate, pleader, adviser. The Mighty God denotes powerful, mightily, great strength, great force, great intensity. A Supreme Being is someone who is super natural, perfect and omnip otent, an omniscient orig inator and ruler ofthe uni verse. The Everlasting Father is someone who is age less, unceasing, unending, eternal. Father God is the first person in the Trin ity. The Prince of Peace is supreme; he’s a ruler,a governor, keeper, ruler of rulers. He’s independent, autonomous, royal, great est in authority and power. He’s harmonious, some one who defines prosperity, contentment, tranquility, serenity and peace. How can we not be hum bled and awed by such a description? He preserves the peace, commands peace, and is the peace within our hearts. He is the author and giver of all good. Bless His name. Only when we open our hearts and allow Him full access will we know,He went to the cross for this peace. In all the turmoil today, especially with the rag ing abuse and cruelty to all the species of God’s king dom, if we trust the Prince of Peace, we will be assured He is in control. It is in Jesus that we find our refuge and well-being. John Flavel, an English Presbyterian minister who lived from 1627-91, wrote, “He is bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, a gar ment to the naked, healing to the wounded; and what ever a soul can desire is found in him.” Everything we have, own, and enjoy is God-given, yet we take so much for granted. Every heartbeat and every breath we take is because God allows it. We reach God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Be grate ful and praise His name because He is the Prince of Peace. Why was Jesus given that title as prophesized by the prophet Isaiah? Read John 14:6, where Jesus, while speaking with his disciples, tells us He is the way to the Father. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In John 14:27, Jesus further tells us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be trou bled, and do not be afraid.” Physical safety and politi cal harmony don’t necessar ily reflect the peace Jesus is discussing. The foundational meaning ofpeace is “the spiritual harmony brought about by an individual’s res toration with God.” Initially, we are at odds with God. As Romans 5:10 states, “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were rec onciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been rec onciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Because of Christ’s sac rifice, we can enjoy eternal peace through a relation ship with the Holy Spirit. This spirit will manifest in us by having us live in ways we could not possibly five on our own, filling us with love, joy and peace. And, in turn, we can’t help but spill this love, joy, and peace into our relationships with people. Naturally, “peaceful” does not mean easy—Jesus never promised that. He told us to expect trials and tribulations. But if we called on Him, He would give us the “peace of God, surpass ing all understanding.” Regardless of our hard ships, we can ask for peace that comes from the power ful love of God. Pat Throckmorton is a resident of Perquimans County. I’ve always been a Christmas enthusiast-I’m captivated by the lights, sounds, smells, and, of course, the flavors ofthe season. Imagine this scene: basking in the gentle glow of your Christmas tree, indulging in festive cookies, and enjoying a holiday special. There’s an undeniable sense ofpeace and comfort in that scene. Critics might say I’ve become “too commercialized” or missed the “true meaning of Christmas,” but I disagree. Yes, we can get overly focused on commercial aspects, but I prioritize presence over presents. I strive to be more present and seek the presence of God-finding His goodness in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Christmas. In, the Gospel of Luke, when angels announce the birth of Christ to sfiepherds, they declare, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to those upon whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). This proclamation of peace extends not only to the shepherds and the Holy Family but to us today. God desires us to live in peace-an inner sense of eternal security even amid life’s storms. As Christians, we’re called to share this peace, not hoard it. Are you troubled by the world’s problems? Take advice from the hymn, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” The peace you desire for can start with you-cultivate peace in your heart and in the spheres where you have influence. But let’s go beyond that! Embrace the advice from the Sesame Street Christmas special: “Keep Christmas with you all through the year.” Christmas isn’t just a season; it’s a time to remember the birth ofthe Prince ofPeace. Allow His peace to reign in your hearts year-round! Rev. Tom Hallberg Hertford United Methodist Church REED GAS A Division of SPP WOODARD'S PHARMACY For All Your LP Gas • Appliances 228 Ocean Hwy. S. Hertford 426-5458 SNUG HARBOR COMMUNITY CHURCH 133 Fir Street Herttord 426-8488 Worship Hour Sunday 9am Pastor Don Carter Elizabeth City ^ BUICK SMC “Where everyone is family” Elizabeth City, NC Hwy. 17 South 338-2131 Pharmaceutical Needs. Third Party Insurance 426-5527 FAMILY CARE PHARMACY -Drive Thru Service- diabetes & convalescent supplies 426-2214 606 S. Church St. Hertford JH^J This Weekly Message Is Brought To You by These Businesses: — DOZIER’S M | N | storage WWW.DOZIERSMINISTORASE.COM (252) 426-7917 104 BERRY STREET, HERTFORD, NC 27944
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Dec. 23, 2023, edition 1
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