Dear Christian Friends,
At this time of year, our minds are drawn to thoughts of our Savior, the babe of Bethlehem, and Mary and Joseph, who traveled unto Bethlehem. The ages-old story is always fresh and exciting to us as Christians.
Through décor, song, gift exchanging, we rejoice in our Father’s great love for us shown in His sending His own Son for us. That Son came in the form of a Baby. A baby who was nurtured inside His mother’s body, a “treasure in [a jar] of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
The angels announced His birth; the shepherds left their sheep and came to worship Him; the Wise Men traveled many miles to adore Him and bring Him their gifts. “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). She still had “this treasure in [a jar] of clay.”
We, too, have this “treasure… the surpassing power [that] belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7b). We have the Word dwelling in us! His great power enables and equips us to do the work he has placed before us. We are LIVING WITH CHRIST.
During this time of Advent and Christmas, let us “[treasure] up all these things, pondering them in [our hearts].” And let us ask God to use us according to His plan to spread the news of that treasure. And let us wish one another, great and small, a very Merry Christmas! And let us realize now more than ever, this Christmas we are LIVING WITH CHRIST.
Merry Christmas! Pastor Hartwig