Merry Christmas from Larry & Janet
It's Christmas time, and you know what that means: family. Family is important to us, and it should be important to everyone. The Bible tells us how Jesus was born in Bethlehem and immediately revealed His divine nature. He was God in the flesh who came to save us from our sins by dying on the cross. Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and His gift to us.
The Christmas story tells us how shepherds and wise men both visited Him to worship.
The gospel of Luke shows poor shepherds coming to see Jesus. They go to the barn or animal shed where he was born.
The gospel of Matthew shows, wise men from the east coming to look for the King of the Jews and they go to King Herod’s Palace looking for the newborn King.
The very birth of Jesus begins to tear down human prejudice.
He is born in a stable, not a palace, because there was no room for Him in the inns (Luke 2:7).
The angels announce His birth to shepherds who were poor and illiterate (Luke 2:8-20).
The gospel of Matthew, shows Wise men bring Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh - gifts of the rich (Matthew 2).
So that the poor, the rich and everyone, everywhere can come to Jesus.
He comes into our world as one of us, but does not stay that way. We are reminded that God sees us all as equal; He looks at us with eyes of love and mercy.
The word FAMILY is forever connected to the Birth of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote a lot about family and Jesus.
The Apostle Paul writes “In Christ’s family there can be no division . . . Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ” (Galatians 3)
In Ephesians he writes “I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (not Joseph), from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (Ephesians 1:15)
We pray that you have a wonderful time with your family this Christmas.
We hope you enjoy this special day with your loved ones and friends.
Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and His gift to us.
The reason why we have things –that we’re able to give them gifts–is because God has blessed us.
This is a unique Christmas because it falls on Sunday.
The next time will be 2033, 11 years from now. This gives us a unique opportunity to share with our children our love, commitment to Jesus and the priority of worship. If you have a 10 year old child, that child will be 21 the next time Christmas is on a Sunday.
Why not spend time with your extended “Christian family” this Christmas Sunday?
As Tiny Tim said, in the classic Christmas story SCROOGE, “God bless us - everyone.”
Until Jesus returns,
Larry & Janet