December 2019...

Dear Friends,

In December 1903, after many failed attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news; a man had flown!

There is always the danger in December of missing the BIG news. Of course, the BIG news is that Jesus Christ is born. We miss it the same way that editor missed his big story: we overlook it in all the holiday stuff.

We know it, we believe it. We can rush past it.

The BIG news is “the Word became flesh and lived among us. We have seen his glory,” (Jn 1:14). Realize for a moment that for John, who wrote these words, they were literally true. Jesus LIVED in John’s hometown. Jesus lived right down the street, in the home of Simon Peter, who was John’s business partner. John was one of the twelve so Jesus spent three years living with him. John saw him, heard him, ate with him, walked from town to town with him, joined in his work, and saw what Jesus did. In John it is literally true that the Word became a man and lived with him. Because that is true, we can trust everything that John said. He was right there. And because he saw it and wrote it, it becomes true to us: the Word lived among us.

Jesus did this for a purpose. “Out of his fullness we have all received grace upon grace,” (Jn 1:16). We have seen what God the Father is like because we have seen the kindness, gentleness, love and the strength and justice of God the Son. Do we wonder if God really loves us? Loves you? Jesus shows that he does.

And we have received the power and the right to become God’s own children (Jn 1:12). Do you truly love your children, your grandkids, your nieces and nephews? If so, don’t you think God, who makes us his children, would truly love you, his daughter or son?

We have received the second birth, through faith in Christ Jesus. Born anew, born spiritually, born from above we see and enter the kingdom of God (Jn 3:3,5). Our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled to the Father.

So enjoy Christmas. Give gifts. Eat cookies. Sing carols. Visit family and friends. Do it ALL.

But don’t miss the BIG news! JESUS CHRIST IS BORN! And that makes all the difference in the world.
  ~ Pastor Byron

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