...But God

Isaiah 9: 6-7

Creators and Guests

Host
Chad McBeam
Business Leader, Foster Advocate and Fighter of Human Trafficking, Chad enjoys hosting this podcast channel as a way to spread and highlight the great examples of those who live out their faith daily. He can also be seen on occasion on your TV or Film Screen or be heard narrating one of your books as his love of acting has stuck with him since his childhood.
Writer
Aaron Marcarelli
After getting his under-graduate degree from Cal State University San Bernardino where he played college baseball and received all American honors. he was a graduate assistant baseball coach at both Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee, and at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.  He received his master’s degree in Teaching from Whitworth, with plans to someday be a head baseball coach at a university.  However, God had other plans.  Aaron started teaching English and History and coaching baseball and other sports at the high school level and found out how much he loves high school kids, and he has been doing that for the past 27 years.     Personally, heI has been married to his wife Sharon for 32 years, they have one daughter, Amanda Parrish, who has been married to Austin Parrish for 2 years. Aaron also has two grandsons Travis age 2 ½ and Aden who is 13 months and are blessed to have another on the way due in May. Aaron loves reading, golfing, and spending time with his wife and grandkids.
LC
Designer
Linda Cowen
Linda Cowen of San Antonio Christian School is our gracious and talented art designer for the But God, weekday morning devotional series.

What is ...But God?

A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam

“For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 NASB2020

One can understand with verses like this how some of the people of Israel during the time of Jesus thought the Messiah would lead the people of Israel to military victory over their Roman captors. They only heard the parts about “And the government will rest on His shoulders”, and “There will be no end to the increase of His government” especially “The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.”
They obviously did not see or hear the parts about peace, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” They certainly did not understand the part where it say “or of peace On the throne of David and over his kingdom.”
Jesus was, is and forever will be the Prince of Peace. The fight is not here on earth it is in the heavenly realm. As the apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 10-12; “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Our Lord Jesus was born into a violent place with brutal dictators. The Caesars were sycophants who made laws and ruled like god’s and implemented their fear and violence into the land that made their empire. The King of Judea at the time was Herod, who was only a puppet of Rome. He was Jewish by heritage alone. When he found out that there was another King born that could replace him. He ordered that all male children 2 and under in Bethlehem killed.
Again it’s easy to understand how the people of Israel would want revenge, ruin and judgment upon Rome and their prefects like Herod.

But God did not come into the world to condemn it, he came to redeem it. Yes we must fight, but we must fight with the power of the Holy Spirit, which is the sword of the word of God. The only offensive weapon listed in the Armor of God. “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:13-17 NASB2020
Our fight is that of peace and goodwill, which is not the peace and goodwill the world wants. It is the Truth of God and His perfect plan. Let us fight the way God wants, that is to share the gospel always.
Lord we thank you for your son and for giving us the tools to share your message of truth, peace and grace. Help us to put on your Armor and be in tune with your Holy Spirit so that we can share the gospel as you have called us to do. In Jesus Name Amen…
Have a great weekend! Blessings and Press In and Press On!