Dear Praying Friends,
In a “Peanuts” cartoon, Lucy throws up her hands and shrieks, “For months we looked forward to Christmas. We couldn’t wait til it came; now it’s all over.” I’m glad that the impact of Christ’s first advent is never over and shows us God’s great plan, power, and faithfulness. At the time of Jesus’ coming, few people were clinging hopefully to God’s ancient promises. Many despaired that God had forgotten His salvation promise in Genesis 3:15—Messiah will crush Satan’s head.
But the Lord did not forget, beloved. He remembered us in our trouble and weakness, for His steadfast love and compassion endures forever.1 When the set time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem us from the curse and to adopt us as God’s sons and daughters.2 You know the history. God’s Son came down and was Virgin-born. The angel announced that Jesus is the only Savior of sinners. It’s not a legend, myth, or fairy-tale. It’s history! You know that everything hangs on the Son of God living in our place, dying to pay our penalty, and rising from the tomb for our justification, sanctification, and glorification. Christ the Lord is our only hope in this life and in the world to come!
Spurgeon encourages: Since Christ our King who is risen and reigning was once an infant, even if my cares are little, trivial, and infantile, I may go to Him and He understands. Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to pray for us. Christ is generous and He gives mercy and and grace to help us in our time of need.3
You know all this, beloved, but many friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors do not know this history and do not follow the Lord Jesus by faith. Words of Hope’s mission is to join with all Christians in bringing God’s unchanging gospel to a changing world. We do this in word and deed, in teaching, counseling, evangelism, and acts of mercy. You help us to make disciples and help them trust and obey Jesus. That’s the only way to true freedom!
We find Christ, not in the creche, but through the Bible’s infallible and inerrant words, worked into our lives by the Holy Spirit who wrote the Scriptures. We hear, believe, and sing to Jesus as Mary, Zacharias, and the angels did and seek to help others do the same. Let’s devote ourselves to serving our Lord afresh this holiday season and in the coming year. What a privilege to be co-laborers with Christ.
Benjamin Hanby’s hymn asks a question, then hurries to give the answer:
Who is He in yonder stall, At whose feet the shepherds fall?
’Tis the Lord! oh wondrous story! ’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall, Crown Him! Crown Him, Lord of all!
Christ is our King of mercy and grace, so in 2019 let us gratefully re-commit ourselves to praying and preaching, worship and fellowship, encouraging and serving, and demonstrating Christ-like love to each other and to non-believers as we witness to Jesus and watch and prepare for His certain return. Our Lord still cares and He bridges the gap between Himself and our fallen world.
Thank you for the privilege of serving and for all the kindness you have shown me!
Your very grateful brother in Christ, Bob
From the blog
Blogs posted since our November 2018 update:
- Hanukkah Points to Christ
- Take the Son: A Parable
- Jesus: Our Mighty God
- Jesus: Our Wonderful Counselor
- Dying and Living in Christ
Notes: 1 Psalm 136:23. 2 Gal 3:13; 4:4,5. 3 Hebrews 4:16,7:25.