For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Christmas greetings to you all.
‘Tis the time to order from Amazon/Ebay/Gumtree/…… insert your own favourite online shopping company here!! Apparently last Christmas Amazon sold enough TVs to reach the top of Mount Everest nine times!
I live a long way from my wider family and so at Christmas some of our presents are sent in the post, some are sent with family who happen to be visiting pre Christmas and others have to wait until after the Christmas period when I see them next. I love it when things are sent in the post and there is a sense of anticipation waiting for the parcel/letter/package/gift to arrive. There’s a sense of gratitude that the person has arranged for things to arrive at a certain time and as they’ve done so they have been thinking about me.
When gifts are sent to us they come with thought, love and consideration, a sense that this gift will bless the recipient.
Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of Christ, almost 2000 years ago in a backwater town known as Bethlehem. It was all a rather low key affair to begin with.
The above reading tells us that Jesus was sent. He didn’t just arrive on the scene and decide one day to declare himself the Messiah. Christians believe Christ is a gift to the world and that his sending is a blessing to one and all.
Jesus words in the few above verses tell us that God’s heart desire is to see all come to faith in him and inherit eternity, to live forever.
In amongst the wrapping paper and sellotape, amongst the ribbons and baubles, amongst the chocolate and the turkey take a moment this year to remember the greatest gift ever sent, the gift of Christ through whom eternity is offered to those who would choose to follow him.
I hope to see you at one of the many events over Christmas this year.
May you have a hopeful, peaceful and joy filled Christmas,
Shalom,
Geoff Felton.
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