Pastor's Point - December 2020
Dear Church Family,
By the time you read this newsletter we will be beyond Thanksgiving looking forward to Christmas. So what I want to do in this article is talk about what I am most thankful for and celebrate the fact that the reality of what I am most thankful for is what we celebrate at Christmas time.
You see I am most thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This has only come into sharper focus during 2020. At Christmas time we are celebrating the fact that God came to us in our world. Perhaps the most significant passage in the Bible on the Incarnation of Jesus is John 1:1–14. John states that “the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (verses 1–2,). John uses the term logos, or “the Word,” as a clear reference to God. John declares in verse 14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Our December sermon series will consider this reality as we look at passages that help us understand that God truly is with us. Our worship ministry will be presenting a special night of worship with this same theme as we consider “God with Us” on December 13th.
The reality that God Himself took on flesh and came to earth to be our Savior and Lord should fill us with thankfulness and joy. My favorite hymn that has been written recently is, “All I Have is Christ.” I want you to read the lyrics in total because they paint the wonderful picture of the reality of a follower of Christ.
VERSE 1
I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still
VERSE 2
But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace
CHORUS
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
VERSE 3
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You
Followers of Jesus have him as their Savior and Lord. We need nothing else. We should look to no one else. We must not be tempted to trust in anything else. We do not have to fear and try to look somewhere else. What we need to remember going forward into a new year is that All we Have is Christ, and He is all we need. No matter what comes in the new year, lets keep looking to Jesus knowing that He is enough.
I love you and I love being your pastor,