John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Matthew 2:11 “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Luke 2:10-14 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Please consider the following words from Queen Elizabeth II that closed out her final Christmas message last year:
“I am sure someone somewhere today will remark that Christmas is a time for children. It’s an engaging truth, but only half the story. Perhaps it’s truer to say that Christmas can speak to the child within us all. Adults, when weighed down with worries, sometimes fail to see the joy in simple things, where children do not.
And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas, as we have the chance to reminisce, and see anew the wonder of the festive season through the eyes of our young children, of whom we were delighted to welcome four more this year.
They teach us all a lesson, just as the Christmas story does, that in the birth of a child there is a new dawn with endless potential.
It is this simplicity of the Christmas story that makes it so universally appealing: simple happenings that formed the starting point of the life of Jesus — a man whose teachings have been handed down from generation to generation, and have been the bedrock of my faith. His birth marked a new beginning. As the carol says, ‘The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.’
I wish you all a very happy Christmas.”
This Christmas, may your hearts be renewed with a joy of the simple things. May we have the chance to reminisce and see anew the wonder of this festive season through the eyes of a child. May we consider the new dawn and endless potential that comes through the birth of our Lord and Saviour.
His birth offers us all a new beginning. And as we consider the miraculous happenings in that little town of Bethlehem so many years ago, may we be reminded that the hopes and fears of all the years were met in Him that night.
PLEASE PRAY FOR A RENEWAL IN YOUR OWN HEART AND A REVIVAL IN THE SOUL OF OUR NATION THIS CHRISTMAS. And as our British friends would say, Happy Christmas to you!
