Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is here! And this weekend we will have the blessed opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Savior together in two services of worship. Tomorrow on Christmas Eve, we will meet at 5:00 PM for our annual Christmas Eve Service. And then on Sunday morning, Christmas Day, we will worship together at 10:30 AM (there will be no Sunday School).
Tomorrow night, through a series of Scripture lessons and familiar Christmas carols, we will once again hear the greatest story of all—the Good News of the incarnation of Jesus, the Divine Son of God. Our service will end with a brief sermon from John 17:14-16, followed by the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Our Christmas Eve message is entitled ‘In the World, But Not Of the World.’
Then on Christmas morning, our final message from John 17—our Lord’s ‘farewell prayer’—will focus on the words of verse 24 where Jesus makes a most passionate request of His Father: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” In these inspired words we discover the infallible Gospel-promise that, in the end, all who have believed upon the Savior will be “with” Him “where” His is forever, and forever in view of His eternal “glory”!
As we give ourselves to the worship of the Incarnate Son, we will come to know the abiding peace and joy that attended His First Advent. Despite what is going on around us, and all that shall come to pass in the days and years ahead, the truth that God has come to us in Christ changes everything! Let us pray that as we worship the King, we will be renewed in our love for Him and for the things of His eternal Kingdom. And let us discover the supernatural assurance that, as the Father has loved the Son from “before the foundation of the world,” our faithful Savior will love us and keep us safe until He Himself receives us into heaven and the perfect happiness that awaits us there!
I love you all so dearly, and rejoice every day in the honor and blessing of being your pastor and brother in the Lord.
On behalf of Carol and our entire family, we pray that your Christmas will be most merry in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Mike