Spread God’s peace and love this Christmas season

As the song says, “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” For many, tomorrow marks the second Sunday of Advent where the “Bethlehem Candle” will be lit to symbolize faith, reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem certainly required faith. A young girl, which church tradition says could be as young as 12 (the age in Jewish tradition a girl could be betrothed), and up to 15 or 16 years of age, unknown to those of royalty or renown, visited by the angel Gabriel in a town of an ill reputation, that was referred to by Nathaniel questioning if “any good thing” can come out of Nazareth. Indeed the scriptures tell us that “Mary was greatly troubled at (the angel’s) words,” and certainly she had good reason to be, considering that she was told that she would be instrumental in bringing about the promised Messiah, the One who “will be called the Son of the Most High” and whose “kingdom will never end.” Furthermore she is told that the “Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Mary has questions, Mary is troubled, and yet Mary responds in faith; “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as You have said.”

For many, this Christmas season may find us troubled, or in doubt, unsure of where God would lead us, and how He is going to answer the cries of our heart, perhaps in period of darkness. During this season, where the nights are longer and the hours of light are shorter, like Mary, let us trust in the words of the One who shines in the darkness. Let us declare, with Mary, that we are the Lord’s servants and that it will be done to us and our families, as God has said in His word (Psalm 23 and Psalm 103:1-6 are good places to start). Remember the best way to keep Christ in Christmas, is to make sure that we as Christians keep in Christ, especially during the Christmas season. We need to allow the Light of His Presence and Love to shine in our hearts, and on those around us, regardless of the circumstances that we are facing, for this is the season where we remember, “Nothing is impossible with God.”

This is the season where we all are called to partake on the journey to Bethlehem, the City of David, to behold the sign of “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL people”: Christ the Lord, which appeared as the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. As we look upon the Christ and the Nativity this Christmas, may we join with the angels and declare, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth may we walk out God’s peace and love towards every person we encounter this Christmas season.

Scott Raible is a local pastor and founder of Christian radio in Medicine Hat. Currently Scott is the morning personality on 93.7 Praise FM and can be reached at scottraible@gmail.com