Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!

I had the privilege of teaching from John chapter 20 yesterday where we read about the facts of our faith, as it pertains to the death, burial, and glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was a most wonderful time of celebrating the reality of why He was born of a virgin, why He lived a perfect life, and why He who knew no sin became sin for fallen humanity.

In announcing the greatest of all births, the Angel of the Lord told those shepherds who might well have been tending the very sheep that were destined to be sacrificed at the Temple that this Birth of God the Son, the very God, in human flesh, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world ushered in a message of good tidings and great joy. And so it was to them and to all those who hear and respond up to and including any and all today who put their faith and trust in Him and His finished work on our behalf.

This is Christmas eve and we are still busily preparing for the festivities that we have planned. At the same time we are determined to keep The Christ in our Christmas and we do hope you will do the same. For many years we have read the account of the birth of Christ at our Christmas family gathering. Once the grand children began to be able to read, one of them practices and then reads that story to our group. In the midst of all the gift exchanges and the wonderful fellowship, this reading helps us all to remember it is only because of God's grace and His gift that we can have peace with Him.

May God bless you and your families as you contemplate the coming of our Savior into this world. Have a wonderful time of building up to a great day of celebrating His goodness with family and friends. I still have a full day of busy activities ahead of me but I will do so with full appreciation for the Why behind this special day! Amen. .....More later.