I wish you all joy and happiness on this commemorative day when we celebrate the most precious gift ever given to mankind. Nothing we could possess comes anywhere near the value of knowing "I am my beloved's and he is mine."
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her king.
Sadly, I realise, there are many who will not give the slightest moment to recognise the purpose of this advent but it makes it no less true and important. For centuries believers have taken time out of their year to make special note of the time of Christ's birth, not necessarily on this day, and often not for 1 day only.
Truly we celebrate it more often ourselves for, who can but give thanks for the author of our salvation? Today I encourage you all to take a moment to thank our Heavenly Father for paying such a great price for our salvation. Yes, he paid a price for he gave, not his son whom he loved not, but his beloved son: his treasure: the apple of his eye, saying, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."
Who, of us, would give a son for a careless, unthankful sinner deserving to die? Of such were we before we heard the Gospel and the Holy Ghost enlightened us so that we might be saved. There is much to rejoice for.
Tell someone about this joy.
Let every heart prepare him room.
This is the Father's desire, and mine also. I bow my head with sorrow knowing that it will not be so. Many will celebrate and be drunken. Homes will be torn by strife and some will be hurt so that they dread this day of excessiveness, greed, and division; but it is because they choose it as a day of wantonness and not of celebration. Let it not be so among us but, let us, in honour, prefer the other: being mindful of peace and comfort to all.
Indeed it was not to the world but to his church that Jesus said [although he says it to the world also], "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock."
Open up your heart that you may feast with him on the word of truth. Delight in the word of the Lord.
Bread of life it is now to me,
Honey, wine, and meat.
Say to yourself and to him, "In the volume of the Book it is written of me [indeed it is for it speaks often of the righteous and the redeemed ones], I delight to do thy will, oh God."
This is a day to renew your vows to him as the anniversary of a wedding for we are the Bride of Christ.
Rejoice, oh christian, for your Lord has come and abides in you [if you abide in him by hearing his instruction and doing it] and gives you everlasting life.
Amen.
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her king.
Sadly, I realise, there are many who will not give the slightest moment to recognise the purpose of this advent but it makes it no less true and important. For centuries believers have taken time out of their year to make special note of the time of Christ's birth, not necessarily on this day, and often not for 1 day only.
Truly we celebrate it more often ourselves for, who can but give thanks for the author of our salvation? Today I encourage you all to take a moment to thank our Heavenly Father for paying such a great price for our salvation. Yes, he paid a price for he gave, not his son whom he loved not, but his beloved son: his treasure: the apple of his eye, saying, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."
Who, of us, would give a son for a careless, unthankful sinner deserving to die? Of such were we before we heard the Gospel and the Holy Ghost enlightened us so that we might be saved. There is much to rejoice for.
Tell someone about this joy.
Let every heart prepare him room.
This is the Father's desire, and mine also. I bow my head with sorrow knowing that it will not be so. Many will celebrate and be drunken. Homes will be torn by strife and some will be hurt so that they dread this day of excessiveness, greed, and division; but it is because they choose it as a day of wantonness and not of celebration. Let it not be so among us but, let us, in honour, prefer the other: being mindful of peace and comfort to all.
Indeed it was not to the world but to his church that Jesus said [although he says it to the world also], "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock."
Open up your heart that you may feast with him on the word of truth. Delight in the word of the Lord.
Bread of life it is now to me,
Honey, wine, and meat.
Say to yourself and to him, "In the volume of the Book it is written of me [indeed it is for it speaks often of the righteous and the redeemed ones], I delight to do thy will, oh God."
This is a day to renew your vows to him as the anniversary of a wedding for we are the Bride of Christ.
Rejoice, oh christian, for your Lord has come and abides in you [if you abide in him by hearing his instruction and doing it] and gives you everlasting life.
Amen.
