Christmas. Nice for some?

Personally I really enjoy it - although I must acknowledge that my wife does most of the onerous work of buying, writing, and sending Christmas cards, and much of the food buying and cooking! I still enjoy giving and receiving presents and having close family and friends together for meals or walking together beside the Kennet and Avon canal, or along the river at Henley or Marlow during the Christmas break. Christmas often divides people, some prepare for it well in advance, Christmas presents often being bought in the January sales 11 months before; whilst others seem to only start thinking about it just after lunch on Christmas eve! God prepared for it hundreds/thousands of years in advance. Almost from the beginning of the Bible God, through various prophets, had been telling people that He was going to send his Son who would be someone very special. This special factor, for me, is still found in the Christmas story in the Bible. The wonder that God's Son came into this world but was found wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger in Bethlehem. The truth is heard in the message of the angel "a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." The excitement of it is seen in the song of the angels "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men". The great thing was that God wanted his gift to be seen and enjoyed by all. He didn't approach one, or two, in high office or in seats of power. He took his message to hard working shepherds - those looking after their sheep by night and invited them to find the Saviour by finding the baby in the manager. Later God would speak to those wealthier - wise men from the east, who would bring the child, God's Son, gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We also read that, having found him, they worshipped him. Christ's coming into the world was all part of God's plan to rescue mankind. Christ's birth was not sufficient to save us, it took his death upon Calvary's cross when God placed mans sin upon him to complete the remedy and make it possible for us to be right with God. Christmas services are very special to me. If you are able to join us at the Gospel Hall over the Christmas time we would be delighted to see you. If you cannot join us I would ask that you find time over this busy period to spend a few moments thinking about the greatest gift of all time, the gift of God's Son and find in him the message of the angel - "a Saviour which is Christ the Lord".