Pastor’s Post

“Prepared for Christmas!”

(“Take advantage of God’s preparation for Christmas”)

   As I write this, the date is sometime in early November and my wife (Leslea) is preparing for Christmas. Not a shocker…, but she thinks about Christmas far sooner than I do. Maybe it’s because I am guy, but more likely because I know my wife; she is prepared and will take care of it. (Thank you Leslea). She starts soon enough, but some people start even sooner than she does. I recently heard about a Christmas tree, with all the lights and music, getting put up before Halloween. I would definitely call that early. That household is outdone tough, by others who just keep the tree up all year along with their outdoor Christmas lights.

   As early as these preparations for Christmas have been made, God prepared for that special date far sooner. In Luke 1:34-35 an Angel of the Lord declares that a virgin (Mary) will have a baby which takes place in Luke 2:6. This idea didn’t come about 5 min. before the Angel Gabriel talked to Mary. This was not a last-minute thought. This was prophesied some 700+ years before the Christmas story takes place. Talk about being prepared early. This was no ordinary situation, because this was no ordinary kid.

We read about this in Isaiah 7:14 which states “the virgin will be with child” and this child will be called “Immanuel” which means God with us. Immanuel wasn’t going to be his name; His name was to be Jesus. Immanuel is who Jesus is…” God with us”.  Jesus who was to come was going to be God in the flesh literally here on the earth we are walking on which happened at conception, and was also declared to be so in the book of John. (John 1:1, 14).

  Even sooner than 700+ years before the birth of Christ, God was prepared for Christmas. God planned for Christmas before the creation of the world! Titus 1:1-2 tells us “eternal life” was promised “before the beginning of time”. That same “eternal life” that was promised in Titus 1:1-2, is realized through Jesus and is promised in Romans 6:23 telling the reader that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”.

   So as Christmas approaches, plan away; Plan for parties, presents, and family get togethers. Try to outdo everyone else with your preparations, but keep in mind, God was preparing long before you started; Jesus came to this earth to be our Savior. Jesus paid the price to make salvation a “free gift”, so make sure you “Take advantage of God’s preparation for Christmas”. Acts 16:31 says “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”.

                                                                                                               Merry Christmas!

                                                                                                                        ~Pastor Josh