Tomorrow will be the first day of January, in the year of Our Lord AD 2000. Although it is just another day in history, it is natural for believers in Christ to celebrate the fact that the kingdom of faith and love He established has continued and persisted "through all the changing scenes of life".
Pilgrims in the faith find deep satisfaction in participating in the words of the age-old Creed: "His kingdom will have no end". As we look back over thousands of years to God's entry into our world in the Christ child at Bethlehem, we find it rewarding to note the immense strength and character so clearly evident in those involved in the Nativity - those who accepted God's call and helped in initiating Christ's mission to the world.
In all those closely involved in that first Christmas there is the striking quality of deep, deep reverence for God and a loving awe that nurtured ready response. There is `'something" supremely wonderful and awe-inspiring in the way the Virgin Mary accepted her Divine destiny to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. Wonderful also is the way Joseph accepted the difficult tasks he had to face.
In the course of their daily life caring for the sheep on the hillside, the shepherds accepted the message of the angels as being from God: "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, `Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us'." There again, we see the same strength of mind to accept God's message and obey.
"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger".
It would be wonderful if by stopping and thinking about the birth of the greatest Person who ever came to earth, with the greatest message for the world, that our response would be in accepting Him and His message of love.
We need to be given the faith in God and prayer as seen in those involved on the first Christmas Day and on every Christmas Day over the thousands of years since then. Sad indeed would it be if we were among those who received Him not. In our time it is just awful to realise how innocent children are not even being told of Jesus or given any way of life to follow.
When they tried to keep the children away from Christ, He was downright angry, saying: "You must let the children come to Me; never stop them!"
As we celebrate the gift of Christ and His church we give thanks for the growing influence of the Prince of Peace. We express repentance for the past, and confidence in Christ with us in the days ahead:
"Lord please forgive the past, renew the present, and make good the future, Amen."
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
W.W.