Auhl

an Advent Devotion by Dick Auhl

Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice.   Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.   And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Have you experience the peace which surpasses all understanding?  It’s easy to have peace when everything is peaceful.  I’ve experienced some wonderful times of peace, but they have come on so few occasions in my life.  I remember one of my first experiences of peace came during a retreat at a camp when I was off by myself in prayer experiencing God’s presence in a very special way.  I recall on a vacation trip to visit our daughter and family in Colorado, Marcie and I stopped in Wyoming at Devils Tower (of all places) and sat peacefully relaxing on a bench while we watch two climbers climb the tower.  I’ve experienced peace on several occasions relaxing on the beach with a book while listening to the waves lap on the shore.  Probably, one of my most relaxing days of peace occurred on the first working day after I retired and I could totally relax on our porch with all the pressures of work off my shoulders.  But do these experiences of peace come anywhere close to the “peace of God which surpasses all understanding” that Paul mentions in Philippians 4:7? 

Isaiah 9:6 states that a child would be born whose name would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Jesus stated to His disciples in John 16:33 that in Him they may have peace. In the world they will have tribulation. But they should take heart because Jesus said “I have overcome the world.”  In Romans 15:13, Paul state “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Notice that in this one sentence Paul uses three of the meanings of the Advent Candles – hope, joy and peace.) 

Paul was familiar with the people living in Philippi, having visited there as described in Acts 16, where he baptized Lydia and other new Christians.  But he and Silas were also attacked, beaten with rods and thrown into prison.  While in prison, he and Silas must have experienced the “peace that surpasses all understanding,” since it was there that they were praying and singing hymns to God, when suddenly there was a great earthquake, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.  It all turned out well for Paul and Silas with the jailer and his family being baptized, with the charges against Paul and Silas being dropped, and the officials apologized before letting them go (in peace). 

Is not the same peace available for us today?  Can we experience the same peace which surpasses all understanding as we deal with all the problems, frustrations and unexpected delays with planting New Life Global Methodist Church here in State College.  I believe we can, because God is ultimately in charge, is totally on our side, and knows exactly what is going on.  Our troubles are minor when compared to those of many Christians around the world.  This Christmas we can greatly thank God for His peace. 

Prayer Forgive us Lord if we’ve let any of the obstacles, frustrations, disappointments and troubles of life take away from us Your peace that can, and does, surpass all understanding.  Help us always to be connected closely to Jesus, knowing that He is the way, the truth, the life and is the ultimate source of your perfect peace. 

Devotion by Dick Auhl

John 1:1-13 (RSV)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.  He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.  He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Since being baptized as a teenager and joining a church, God has spoken to me many times, in many different ways, over these past 78 years, primarily by acquainting me with Scripture that has applied to circumstances occurring in my life.  Recently, during my devotions, the words “light” and “children” kept coming to my attention.  This reminded me of an experience I had as a young, unmarried electrical engineer attending a Presbyterian church in Pottsville, PA where I struggled with teaching Sunday school to a group of young teenage boys. One fall in 1956 a young enthusiastic seminary student from Princeton Theological Seminary visited our church for a weekend of teaching.  I related to him because his name was Dick and he also had studied electrical engineering before being called to prepare for the ministry.  Sometime during that weekend, he introduced me to John 1:12, a Scripture that has been in my mind every since. 

One might ask “aren’t all human beings’ children of God?”  In one sense, yes, because everyone is made in God’s image (See Genesis 1:27 and 2 Corinthians 4:4).  As we read the scriptures in John’s gospel prior to John 1:12, we find the word “light” used six times, referring to Jesus as “the light.”  Therefore, in John 1:12, children of God are those who receive Jesus and believe him to be the Son of God, the light of this world.   In John 8:12 Jesus states “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”

If we do a Bible search for “children of light” we find Ephesians 5:8-9 which states “for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).”  It’s so easy for us to fall into darkness.  In fact, so much of our society is living in darkness, not knowing the joy of being children of light.  I must admit that I have times of darkness, but thanks be to God, He has given me the power to become a child of light when I’m connected to Jesus in prayer and study of His word.

Prayer

Dear Lord, we pray that those of us who have received You and believe in Your name, will be connected to You each and every day in order to have the power to continue as children of light making an impact for You among those who are still living in darkness.  As Children of light, we will be better able to worship You passionately, love You and others extravagantly and witness boldly to those still living in darkness. We give You all the praise and glory. Amen