The Christ of Christmas

Shirley Wiggins

 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us’).”  Matthew 1:23.

“This is how God showed His love among us:  He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.  This is love:  not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  1 John 4:9-11.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14.

 

Christmas morning, 2021.  The world has a Savior – Rejoice, World!  Your Savior has come.  Rejoice.  Renew your hope!  Help has arrived.

When I consider the world-wide human suffering, I could become overwhelmed with sorrow.

When I remember the reason for the desperate need of a Savior, such a small word represents the reason:  S - I – N.  Sin.  All the harm that has been done, and all the good that has been withheld is summed up in that one three-letter word:  sin.

All the good that can be done, and all the harm that can be avoided will be found in another three-letter word:  S – O – N.  Son.  The Son of God, the One and Only.  The  reason for the rejoicing and the renewing is found in the world’s one and only hope:  Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man.

“Long lay the world in sin and error pining…”  “O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.  Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.  The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn…”

Oh, how we need to experience anew the soul-deep “thrill of hope” in our world today!

We must not refuse to acknowledge and confess our own individual part in the harm that has been done, and the good that has been withheld in the world down through the years past.  May we each repent with godly sorrow and, then, may we each take hold of the grace offered for the saving of our souls, rejoicing in the salvation of the Son of God.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy saying.  And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.  These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”  Titus 3:4-8.

May we go forth, each of us in our place and time, reminding the world around us that God is with us!

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you:  God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10.

Because of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, our tomorrows hold Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness – and Self-Control.   “Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”  See Galatians 5: 22-26.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Galatians 6:10.

“This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence:  If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.  Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him.  And this is His command:  to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.  The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them.  And this is how we know that He lives in us:  We know it by the Spirit He gave us.”  1 John 3: 16-24.

We shall then rejoice in the love and goodness of the Lord, our God, the Father of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

We shall overcome evil with good.  See Romans 12:21.

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  2 Corinthians 13:14. 

Merry Christmas

And

Happy New Year!!