For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but the save the world through Him.  John 3:16-17

Luke 2:1-20  2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.  6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.  8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”  13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”  15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Four hundred years of silence.  The Jewish nation had lost it's deep relationship with God.  They no longer were a nation under their Creator, but were under worldly rulers who had no regard for their traditions or the Lord of the Universe.  Their relationship with God became influenced by the everyday life around them.  Persecution came under tyrants.  The darkness of the world had clouded this once thriving nation.  And then suddenly!

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them.   Once again there was hope in Israel.  

But not just for Israel.  For all peoples, everywhere, in every time.  Matthew 4:15-16 15 “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.  And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”

We live under the shadow of a pandemic.  The world seems more and more determined to push God out of existence (at least in their hearts and minds).  Violence and hatred appear to be on the rise, darkness envelopes the hearts of so many on this planet...and yet there is hope, there is light.  Like the star leading the wise men to worship a young child destined to become King of kings, God's love still shines in the hearts of His children.  We are now to become that light that leads to Him.  We have the promise of Heaven.  We have the promise of eternal joy.  Our job is to share that with the world.  To be light in the darkness.  As the world grows colder and darker, may the warmth of God's love and the light of Jesus Christ shine through us more and more.  

Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  On that long ago Christmas night as a baby laid in a manager, the Cross loomed.  But in the Cross lay the path to the salvation of the world...the redemption of all who would come to accept Your gift.  When I think of Christmas day, I remember the gift of Jesus, and that gift comes to fullness on Easter morn.  Nothing is ever separate for You.  You are the great I AM.  Let our hearts rejoice this Christmas, even though we may have sadness in this world.  Our joy is in You.  Our peace is in Your.  Your promises are "yea and amen."   Lord, help us to be light.  Give us boldness.  Forgive us for timidity in sharing the Gospel.  Let us give Your gift to others.  Strip away the things that keep us from being on fire for You.  Turn Your church away from the things of the world that capture and blind.  Let us not be afraid of the uncomfortable.  Now more than ever, this world needs Your salvation.  Lord, let us light the way.  Lord help us.  Thank You.  In Jesus redeeming Name, amen.  

Celebrate!  Shine!  

M E R R Y

C H R I S T M A S