DECEMBER 23, 2018 – NOTE FROM THE PASTOR

Dear Brethren,

As we go through the Christmas holiday rush, reunions, engagements, stress and strain, let us not forget the real reason for the season. It is especially a season of grace, of love, of giving, and of praise. Matthew and Luke contain the account that we call the Christmas story. In Matthew’s account in the very middle of the account, we are given the heart of the Christmas story, the very reason for which Jesus came is such a simple truth, such a clearly defined reason, and yet most people miss it.

The Bible in Matthew 1:21 records, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” That is why Jesus came! That is the reason for the season. Likewise in Luke 19:10, Jesus said in reference to Himself, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” All of the other things we have and do during this season have the potential of completely overshadowing, and completely covering why Jesus came, and consequently what we need to do in response to His coming.

My dear brethren, let us not be caught up in all the peripheral events, and missed the very message of Christmas. Luke 2:10-11 records the message of the angel appearing to the shepherds, “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 Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” That is what the Christmas story is all about. That is the true real meaning of Christmas. Jesus did not come simply to be a babe in a manger. Jesus came to be our Savior!

The Bible clearly says that Jesus came to forgive sins. He is God who became man to die on the Cross of Calvary for our redemption. He came to save His people from their sins. Jesus, God in the flesh, born into this world as a little baby, with the whole reason to be our Savior. Let us not missed it! The Bible in John 1:11-12 tells us, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

My dear brethren, let us really understand what the Christmas season is all about. It is truly all about God, about Christ-God’s greatest gift to us. It is indeed a season of God’s love, God’s grace, God’s gift, and God’s praise. Jesus Christ is certainly the reason for the season!

A Blessed and Christ-filled Christmas to all of us!!!

All By God’s Grace and For God’s Glory!
Pastor Gerry Nable