Incredible words of hope and light come together in Christmas story
I RECENTLY shared with my congregation in Gorey Methodist that I wasn’t always a great fan of Christmas!
In fact, the young people that I worked with in North Belfast used to mock me for my grumpy attitude to all the hype and craziness of the season.
Christmas for me was often a time that was marked with some sadness. It was a time when the picture perfect images that the TV and movies displayed felt a distant reality from the life I experienced.
Instead of being filled with the joy of ‘ happy endings’, I was saddened by the people who were missing from the Christmas table. At the end of the service, I was thankful to hear that I am not the only one who feels this way at Christmas time! I wonder how Christmas makes you feel?
What I have to come to real- ise is that the Christmas story, that is central to this season, speaks incredible words of hope and light into our circumstances – whatever they may be.
You see, as we think on the story of Christ’s birth, we are given a glimpse of God’s love for us that is extravagant and generous. In that lowly, humble, beginning of a baby boy, actions of grandeur and majesty are displayed that tell us that our Saviour has been born, He is Christ the Lord, Immanuel.
That name Immanuel is one of my favourite names spoken of Christ because it reminds us that God is with us. He is not distant, or abstract, or detached from our lives, but completely the opposite. He is with us, longing to know us and longing to bring light to our darkness and hope to our brokenness. What an incredible God!
I encourage you to take time in the busyness of this season, to sit still for just a moment and read the Gospel stories of the birth of Christ. We think we know them well, but actually, when we come to look at the passages we can be surprised to discover something new as God speaks to us through them.
The verses are filled with good news for all people. They remind us that we are loved and are not alone. They restore our hope, and give us faith that in the midst of the darkness and pain of this world, nothing is impossible for our God.
This Christmas, regardless of what you face, whether it be joy or sorrow, I pray that you know the presence of God with you and are strengthened by his love. And on behalf of the Methodist Community, may you know the blessing of Christ this Christmas time, and be captured and captivated by his love for you once again. Have a wonderful Christmas!