Thought for Today
Isaiah 9:6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
“Joy to the world! the Lord is come: Let earth receive her king: Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.” (hymn Joy to the World! The Lord is Come)
We heard those words of scripture read last night in our Christmas Eve Worship Service. We sang that hymn. There were other lessons and other carols as part of our service. Like so many other Christian services around the world, we closed by singing Silent Night while holding lighted candles. For us, here in New England, there was still snow on the ground.
This morning, Christians awakened to a new world. A world reborn to the reality that our king has come, come in the birth of that small babe, lying in a manger. A new world reminded that our Creator God chose to come into Creation not as a warrior, not as a king or czar or even as a president. God came into the world as an ordinary, simple, helpless baby. God came to an ordinary family from an ordinary, small, somewhat remote village. God came into the family of a carpenter and a stay-at-home mom. As a Protestant, I believe God came as the eldest son in a family which included brothers and sisters.
The magic and miracle of today is that our God chose to come among us, as one of us with all our earthly limitations, for the purpose of showing us the way back into a right relationship with God. And, because of that, we awaken into a truly new world.
Regrettably, some still don’t get it. Some still don’t believe and accept. There is still war, poverty, hunger, evil (and the list goes on). But, now we know the truth and God’s truth will set us free.
Stay safe, have a Merry Christmas, trust God,
Pastor Ray