A Christmas Birthday

[Pastor Dan Howard]

If there is any picture that captures humanity at Christmas, perhaps it is this:

Humanity kneeling at the feet of God. With humility offering the best we have to offer. 

All while making it clear this fulfills all obligations.

In arrogance: “This is enough, be happy”
In self-awareness:  “Was this enough…..”
The Law: “You need a better gift.”
Our sinful nature “Look what we got away with!”
Our new creation: “It’s about the creator, not the creation.”

It’s a battle that we all live.

And God tells us that He will handle even that.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. – John 14:27(ESV)

This Christmas may we not worry about the gifts the world brings.
May we not worry about the gifts we offer.
May we be content with the gift that the creator of all gifts has blessed us with.

After all Jesus is the reason for the season… Not just the reason…the gift of the season.

 So what did you get Him?

I’ll leave you with the words of Paul:
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

Merry Christmas my friends.

-Pastor Dan