Introduction
Hello Church and Welcome! On this eve before Christmas, may this time you’ve set aside to spend in God’s word bring unexpected joy to your heart!
Let’s begin with a brief pause to quiet our thoughts and calm our spirit to receive from the Lord what He has for us in His word.
Let’s begin with a brief pause to quiet our thoughts and calm our spirit to receive from the Lord what He has for us in His word.
Opening Prayer
Eternal God of love, thank you for walking with us this advent season. Please continue to help our hearts remember the love You have for us. As this story and these passages become more familiar, enable us to see and understand new and wonderful things found therein. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation and grant us a willing spirit to sustain us through the days ahead.
Today's Scripture - Luke 2:1-7 with Colossians 1:15-23 and Hebrews 1:3
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven….The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven….The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
God's word to us, a lamp for our feet, a light on our path. Thanks be to God.
Reflection
This most wonderful time of the year for sure has it’s joy-filled moments. But we are not yet returned to Eden and so we still face loneliness from departed loved ones, conflicts unresolved, griefs both big and small, and hardships that no amount of singing can overcome. In spite of all of this, our downcast souls can be assured of the promise that we will yet praise Him, our Saviour and our God. For this babe born in a manger does sustain all things by His powerful word. He has provided to us purification for our sin, He has completed the work of reconciling us to God and making us His children.
Jon Foreman says; “Hallelujah nevertheless, is a song pain cannot destroy.” And he’s right. There is an invincible joy in Jesus. It is there when we don’t feel it, and it carries us when we have lost our way. When our soul is downcast and we cannot see a way thru, we can still stake our claim in His goodness and His with-ness in our lives. His Joy can and does co-exist with grief. Rather than situational feelings of happiness, Jesus’ Joy is a settled rest in the reality of God’s existence and character.
Whether our hearts can barely eke out any form of praise or we are currently overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement – Jesus has come down. He is here with us. He does not turn His face away. He has overcome and He will overcome. We are children of promises that depend soley on the faithfulness of our God to fulfill. He loves us, oh how He loves us! Let us find our Joy in that.
Jon Foreman says; “Hallelujah nevertheless, is a song pain cannot destroy.” And he’s right. There is an invincible joy in Jesus. It is there when we don’t feel it, and it carries us when we have lost our way. When our soul is downcast and we cannot see a way thru, we can still stake our claim in His goodness and His with-ness in our lives. His Joy can and does co-exist with grief. Rather than situational feelings of happiness, Jesus’ Joy is a settled rest in the reality of God’s existence and character.
Whether our hearts can barely eke out any form of praise or we are currently overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement – Jesus has come down. He is here with us. He does not turn His face away. He has overcome and He will overcome. We are children of promises that depend soley on the faithfulness of our God to fulfill. He loves us, oh how He loves us! Let us find our Joy in that.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.
Closing Prayer
As you go about your day, carry this short prayer with you:
Lord Jesus, You came!
In my celebrations, help my heart to remember that You are here.
In my celebrations, help my heart to remember that You are here.
Take a few moments now to pray to our God of wonderous Love
Thank you for joining us this advent Season! It has been wonderful to spend these minutes with you remembering the reason there is Joy to the world! May your Christmas morning bring you word of His unfailing love – in the midst of whatever your day holds. May you move into the coming year strengthened in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.
