The Wonders of Christmas Calling Us to Faith

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

I enjoy watching Christmas movies during the holiday season.  Usually I prefer the older movies to the newer ones.  One of the Movies I watched this past week was “Miracle on 34^th Street.”  Perhaps you know that the plot of this movie revolves around the struggle of a young girl and her mother to believe in Santa.

 

The saving actions of God call us to believe.  But Christmas is a call to believe in God’s actions in real, historic events.  The birth of Jesus is not a made up story.  Jesus is a man who lived in history.  Scripture is not the only source that attests to the historic life of Jesus, but He is also spoken of by many outside the Bible, even by those outside the Christian church.  

 

The events of Christmas call us to believe, not so much that Jesus was born and lived on this earth, but rather they call us to believe that this baby born in Bethlehem was indeed the Son of God Himself, the Savior of the world.  To accept this wonderful, world-changing truth takes more than just historic knowledge.  Such faith means accepting and trusting that God created and loves the world, and that God is working even now in Jesus to love us and to save us.  Faith and belief that God is working is more difficult than just knowing the facts of history.

 

But, the fact that our holy and righteous God broke into our sinful world and into our troubled lives is such great good news that God gives help to people who might struggle to believe.  You see, the people in Jesus’ time also struggled with believing in what God was doing.  Thankfully, God’s help to people at the time of Jesus’ birth still opens our eyes in wonder and sparks faith in our hearts.

 

Consider the wonders of that first Christmas, the special actions of God that help doubting hearts and minds to realize that, “Yes, God is really acting to bring His comforting and saving love into our painful world.”

 

First, in order to share this good news God sends angels, lot of angels to lots of different people!  Angels appear to Zechariah and to Mary in Luke 1, and to Joseph in Matthew 1 and in Matthew 2.  Then a whole army of angels appears to common working class shepherds pulling the night shift in Luke 2.  The Greek word “angel” means “messenger.”  The message of God from all these angels is that God has good news!  This baby, born in Bethlehem, is God’s Son and the Savior of the world.

 

If the angels weren’t special enough, God comes to us in a once in history manner, with Jesus being delivered in birth by a virgin, a young woman who had never had a sexual relationship with a man!  That is impossible in any other situation.  But, as the angel Gabriel tells Mary,  “nothing is impossible with God,” (Luke 1:37) And this seemingly impossible birth not only allows Jesus to be our Savior because he was born without the sinful nature with which we all struggle, but this virgin birth also calls us in wonder to gaze at the marvels of God before us.

 

Then the child Jesus is visited by foreign dignitaries.  Magi, or wise men, come from a part of the world east of Israel following a star whose properties are unique.  This special Christmas star points the wise men and us to the Lord’s loving acts of salvation.  This star and these special visitors also shout out that God is doing something really special.

 

But this is not all, when Jesus is 40 days old and presented in the temple according to Jewish law, the elderly believer, Simeon, and the aged prophetess, Anna, sing the praises of God because of His wondrous, merciful, acts of salvation in the birth of Jesus.

 

All of these people had questions.  But all of them, Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, Anna, and Simeon, not only came to trust God’s world saving acts of love in Jesus, but these people all spoke and sang His praises as well.

 

So, this Christmas God calls us to faith as we again hear and consider all the signs of God that He is acting mightily to give His love in Jesus.  God doesn’t just want us to know Jesus was a man who lived 2000 years ago.  He wants us to believe and to trust that this baby is the promised Messiah, the son of God Himself, become a man.  God wants us to know that Jesus brings God’s love and joy, His forgiveness and peace, His salvation and eternal life to us. 

 

Believing all this can be difficult at times.  But, think about it for a minute.  If your heart is warmed and your eyes grow misty at a fictional story of Christmas magic on the TV screen, should not the special signs and messengers of God in history move our hearts to faith and to thankfulness and to praise?

 

Christmas blessings to all of you from me and from my family.

 

A Child of God, Finding Joy and Faith in God’s Special Signs and Messages Surrounding Jesus’ Birth,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Please remember all the opportunities to receive God’s Christmas miracle in Jesus and to give Him praise through our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services.  (See below)

 

P.P.S.  I have no fish pictures this week.  This past Monday I was in the hospital with Kathy for surgery on her back.  The surgery was postponed and later performed on Friday morning.  I am thankful for all prayers for full and quick recovery.

 

P.P.P.S.  If you got my devotion late last week, I was again struggling with my e-mail server because of the number of e-mails I send.  The devotion was written, but would not send.  However, I think I have that figured out again.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.

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Finding Christmas Joy and Faith in Christmas Music

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

I was struck recently by an insightful comment at a meeting of the Palmer Kiwanis Club.  I was asked to arrange speakers for the December 13 meeting of the club by inviting some local pastors who would share opportunities for Christmas worship and activities.  After the short presentations, the pastors led our club in singing a few Christmas carols.  One of our club members then shared how much she enjoyed the traditional carols, which in some ways have been missing in recent years.  “Maybe we’ve heard enough about ‘Gramma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.’  I have missed the traditional carols.”  In fact, this Kiwanian and another had sung Christmas carols recently while ringing a bell for the Salvation Army.  Their singing brought many comments of appreciation from those shopping that day.

 

As a Christian who seeks to live my faith as a child of God, one of my favorite ways to celebrate Advent and Christmas is the music.  You may have favorite Christmas hymns or carols.  Maybe you like the children’s cradle song, “Away in a Manger.”  Perhaps your soul yearns for the heavenly peace of “Silent Night.”  (That is my favorite.)  Possibly you are moved by classical music like G.F. Handel’s “Messiah.”  Or, has your heart been renewed in faith by traditional songs from other nations like the English carol, “Once in Royal David’s City,” or the French carol, “The First Noel,” or even by the German children’s hymn, “O Come Little Children?”

 

A favorite Christmas carol of many is the Isaac Watts classic, “Joy to the World.”  This hymn shares the joyful good news that God Himself has come in the birth of the infant, Jesus.  But, did you know that Watts’ inspiration for this hymn is found in the Old Testament, in Psalms 98 and 96? Listen to the first two verse of this Psalm 98.

 

1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

 

In this Psalm the Psalmist calls for singing songs of praise to God, because He has saved all nations by His righteous acts.  If you were to open your Bible at home and read the rest of Psalm 98, or Psalm 96, you would also read how the seas and the rivers, the mountains and the fields, praise God for His righteous salvation.  This Psalm teaches that there are many reasons for giving praise to God.  Watts then reminds us of these reasons in the well-loved Christmas carol, “Joy to the World.”

 

One of the joys of the Advent and Christmas celebrations is that there are so many wonderful musical expressions of God’s Christmas love.  This love is expressed not only in the familiar tunes, but also in the words of Godly truth.  We can also find such heart-touching beauty in songs not quite as well known.  In worship this past Wednesday evening my heart was moved again by the words of a lesser known hymn, “Once He Came in Blessing.”

Once He came in blessing, All our sins redressing;

Came in likeness lowly, Son of God most holy;

Bore the cross to save us; Hope and freedom gave us.

 

Come, then, O Lord Jesus, From our sins release us.

Keep our hearts believing, That we, grace receiving,

Ever may confess You, Till in heav’n we bless You.

 

Those words, speak to my mind and touch my heart.  But, such reaction to songs of praise has been noted throughout history.  Martin Luther taught others the wisdom of St. Augustine, “He who sings, prays twice.”  How wonderful when God can touch our hearts and light the fire of faith again through the words and music of a song!

 

I saw the blessings of Christmas music again last Sunday.  A smaller than usual group of St. John folk went Christmas caroling.  We went to the homes of 4 different members of our congregation who, because of health or age issues, can’t get out of their homes the way they once could, or are unable even to leave home at all without help.  This year we didn’t see the tears we often see.  But, we were welcomed with heart-felt joy and appreciation by children of God who were glad to know they had not been forgotten.  And we were welcomed with heart-felt joy and appreciation by children of God who were reminded by these traditional carols that God has a special love for them which even caused Him to send His Son to be born as a humble child, and to grow to save us from our sin.

 

1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.  (Psalm 98:1)  Which Christmas carol is your favorite? 

 

A Child of God, Finding Joy and Faith in Christmas Music,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  In Christmas Eve worship this year we will again speak the Christmas prayers of some of these famous carol, after we have sung them.

 

P.P.S.  Here are some pictures from fishing last Monday.  Gerry Zellar and I caught a limit of rainbows on a local lake.  Two of my grandchildren later DEVOURED the two biggest trout that evening!  https://goo.gl/photos/hb7Cc7gLYQdn6qho9

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.

 

 

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