The True Gift of Christmas

Dear Friends,

Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year! It deeply moves the heart on many levels. The nativity reminds us of God’s love for us, which is from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 103:17).

The season evokes precious memories of family and friends joyfully gathering, worshipping together and breaking bread. It is an opportunity to make new memories which our children and grandchildren will treasure all their lives. For many, however, the Christmas season can be a time of deep sorrow as they remember loved ones who are no longer with them.

Though Christmas can touch our emotions, create memories, or bring families closer together, we are reminded that only Jesus can save and transform lives – He is the reason for the season!

The prophet Isaiah predicted the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, over 700 years before His birth:

(Isaiah 9:6-7) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the
increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his
kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-
which means, "God with us." (referencing Isaiah 7:14)

History hinges on the birth of Jesus Christ. No single individual has had such an influence upon human history as Jesus of Nazareth! Today, nations all throughout the world recognize this year as 2023 AD, (Anno Domini – Latin, for the year of the Lord).

Some scholars believe an appropriate date for the birth of Jesus could be September 29, 5 BC, which corresponds with the Jewish celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast observes the ingathering of the harvest, and pictured the future day when Jesus gathers His people to Himself.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, the Emperor Augustus Caesar decreed a census to be taken to tax the people. Interestingly, our word “confiscate” derives from the Latin, and originally meant “to appropriate for the public treasury.” Caesar takes – God gives!

(John 3:16-17) 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 to save the world through him.

Yet, God in His wisdom, chooses this event to reveal the greatest gift humanity would ever receive – the Savior of the world, our Lord, Jesus Christ!

The Lord can even use the ungodly to fulfill His plans and purposes – Augustus was helping to fulfill a prophecy written 600 years earlier, that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem:

(Micah 5:2) "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you
will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel…”

Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather, would be required to register in his hometown of Bethlehem. And so, the story of the Nativity begins.

Considering that God has given us His Son, Jesus Christ, the greatest gift we could ever receive, Peter asks a very profound question:

(2 Peter 3:11-12) …what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look
forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

The prophet Micah addresses our responsibilities to God:

(Micah 6:8) And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly
with your God.

(Mark 12:30-31) “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind
and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no
commandment greater than these."

(John 14:23-24) …"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will
come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”

(1 John 2:5-6) …if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know
we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

As children and servants of God, we honor our Lord by living for Him:

(Romans 12:1-2) …I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern
of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(2 Corinthians 5:14-15) …Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and
therefore, all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for
him who died for them and was raised again.

Let us continue to be “salt and light,” as we reveal the love, life, truth and salvation of Jesus Christ to the world around us!

(Luke 2:14) “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

May you all enjoy the richest blessings of our Lord in this wonderful Christmas season!

To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Paul