Scripture for the MonthDecember 2018
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Pastor's Note
As Christmas draws near, my hope for this Christmas is joy. I find myself longing for joy, it's been an emotional couple of months with a mixture of sadness and excitement. I find myself reflective and it's been good because in the midst of so much to do and what seems like so little time to get it done, my imagination takes over.
I imagine.. perhaps... before Creation, before Genesis 1:1 was inspired... the Holy Trinity looked over God's plans and knew the fall of man from grace was inevitable. Perhaps... God and Jesus talked and God said man's fall would require a perfect, sinless human being to make atonement for our sin. Perhaps, Jesus saw the manger in Bethlehem, looked at the cross and the empty tomb and replied to God the Father, "because you love them so much, they're worth saving, so I will go into the mess they'll make and give myself on the cross for them".
Perhaps... shortly afterwards, God created. He created lightning bugs with behinds that light up just to make us smile. He put stripes on zebras, beautiful feathers on peacocks and a song in birds just to make us smile. He peaked the mountains and placed streams over rocks just so we would enjoy the sound and beauty. Why did God go to so much trouble to give us such gifts? I think it was so we would appreciate His effort and praise Him for it.
Then, at the appointed time, He sent His Son Jesus to save the world from sin. The Bible tells us 'they shall call his name Jesus for He will save the people from their sins'. What a gift, what a Savior. Do you know Him? Have you admitted your sin, believed in Him and confessed Him as your Lord? Salvation is as easy as A, B, C. Jesus came so we could be saved from sin. Jesus - there is no other way to God and I submit to you that was God's plan from before what you and I call - the beginning.
My friends, God went through the effort of creating a world full of beauty and splendor which if we'll look for it, it's still there. God's eternal plan is to save the world from sin so He sent His Son Jesus - what a name! What a gift! Have you received God's gift into you heart yet?
Continuing the work of Jesus ChristPeacefully, Simply, Together
Peacefully, Simply, Together