Good morning:
Every so often during the past month I’ve received a text or email with the same short message: “Your package has been delivered.” At first reading it might not seem like much, but it never fails to brighten my day. It means that something I ordered online and then possibly forgot all about is at my front door. I didn’t have to drive to the mall to find it, buy it, and then put it in the car and bring it home. It was all taken care of by the merchant and UPS.
The message of Christmas is like that. “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4). Mankind had nothing to do with it. In fact, no one even asked for it. Sin made us God’s enemies who wanted nothing to do with Him. Yet incredibly, God took pity on sinners and from eternity planned their salvation. Already in Eden He announced the Gift would be coming, the Seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head. Generations of believers eagerly waited and watched for the arrival. At just the right moment, Jesus was born.
A package at the front door may brighten our day, but God’s Son at the world’s doorstep fills our hearts with the brilliance and glory of God which beamed down on the shepherds of Bethlehem. It’s news of hope and peace, for Jesus came to save us from sin and death. It’s a message which gives new perspective and purpose to life. It brings joy that time and circumstances can never dim. Jesus is the perfect Gift for everyone on earth.
There have been a few times when a package has arrived and I missed seeing it for a day or more. May that not happen with the greatest Gift of all! As you go through your day, think of how blessed we are to see the fulfillment of what the prophets foretold. Thank God for the opportunities we will have in the next few days to praise Him for His love in Jesus. We’ll begin with tomorrow morning’s sermon text (Luke 1:26-38) which recounts the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would be Jesus’ mother.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor
We will follow our usual Sunday morning schedule tomorrow. The children will rehearse at 9:30 a.m. Adult Bible class will meet in the activity room. Following second service, lunch will be served for the children and adults involved in the evening program. A brief practice and gift opening will follow lunch.
The Christmas Eve service begins at 6 p.m.
The Christmas Day Song Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday.
