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Dear John,
In these final days of 2022--as we at Family Research Council are praying and working to reach a critical budget goal on December 31-- a scene from the Nativity comes to mind.
In Luke 2, angels proclaimed the earth-shattering news of Jesus's birth to lowly shepherds watching their flocks. In verse 14 the heavenly hosts proclaimed, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
Verse 17 describes how the shepherds responded that night, "When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child."
Christmas celebrates how God became flesh in the person of Jesus, the Savior and light of the world who brings life to each person He redeems.
It's good news worth proclaiming!
He came not as a king or as a conqueror... but as a baby. What greater way could God express His approachability than by coming to earth--His earth--in the form of the most vulnerable creature on the planet?
Two thousand years later, the backdrop for that story hits close to home. Rulers determined to do anything to preserve their power promote the shedding of innocent blood. Government officials make a mockery of marriage as God designed it. Peace is proclaimed on high while violence stalks our streets. We are a broken people living in a dark world.
How can you have peace in a world that is so upside down? Was what the angels proclaimed an empty promise?
Not at all. For out of that darkness two millennia ago came the greatest message ever given to man: God is with us!
When we sign up to follow Christ, He promises to be with us and give us His peace (John 14:27).
It is not the absence of conflict; we're not going to see peace around the world, in Congress, or in our streets without Jesus. It doesn't make sense in the midst of difficult circumstances. But it's an internal peace that comes from making the Lord our focus--a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7)
Isaiah 26:3 declares, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
As we approach the dawning of the new year, I challenge you to anchor your life to something that will never change: the Word of God.
It's why our FRC team is going through the two-year Stand on the Word Bible reading plan. Our entire organization starts every day discussing the morning's reading--not as a gimmick, but because it is essential. We must daily fix our eyes on Jesus and His Word.
It is never too late for you to join in. Start today by visiting frc.org/Bible and invite loved ones to join you on the journey.
As the apostle John declared in his gospel, "In [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men." That's more than the Christmas story--as beautiful as it is. It's the hope of the whole world and the source of our peace.
These past few years have been hard for a lot of people. If anyone thought that the world was a stable place, they've certainly been proven wrong.
But, even now, we can have peace. We can have certainty that somehow all of this is going to work out as God has designed it and a confidence that all things will work out for the good (Romans 8:28).
Make no mistake: There will be challenging days ahead. But we can face anything that comes our way when the Lord is our focus.
As you and I have the courage to stand in a world that is increasingly hostile to the truth--and we have peace when the crowd is against us--it will be God's evangelistic tool to display His saving grace to others.
So, no matter the darkness around us, our calling remains to stand faithfully and proclaim the truth about the King born in Bethlehem and His coming kingdom.
John, if you feel led to include FRC on your Christmas gift list this year, know that your timely gift will help us to advance a biblical worldview in public policy and the culture so we can keep the doors open to spread this gospel.
And thanks to very generous friends, the special year-end Challenge Match has increased to $1.5 Million, meaning you can still double your impact for faith, family, and freedom as we prepare for the battles ahead in 2023.
On behalf of all of us at Family Research Council, thank you for standing with us this year. May the Lord bless you and your family with overwhelming joy and peace as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!
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