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A TIME OF EXPECTATION
WHAT are you expecting for Christmas?
The latest toy maybe - micro-pets, a CD of 30 songs from
Elvis, or, for the person who has everything, the gift of an acre of land on the
moon (when you go to claim it, remember the breathing gear). These are some of
the top 10 gifts people are expecting for Christmas 2002. Christmas is a time of Expectation? The Jewish people were expecting a Messiah. Isaiah stirred
up that expectation with his promise: ‘The people walking in darkness have
seen a great light... for unto us, a child is born.’ Many centuries before the birth of Christ, it was promised
that the Mighty God would be born and His light would shine brightly over the
whole earth. The place where he would appear was expected?
Micah foretold: ‘Bethlehem, out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel’. This would have been questioned and
debated, for who would have thought of the little town of Bethlehem as the birth
place of the Son of God? Yet the expectation of this prophecy was fulfilled. Joseph wasn’t expecting the Saviour!
Many filed to understand the prophecy. In Matthew 1, the
angel explained to Joseph that all this took place to fulfill the words of the
prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they
will call Him Immanuel — which means God with us.’ Are you expecting Christ to enter your Life?
The Hymn: ‘0, Little Town of Bethlehem’ describes how God’s
gift of his Son can enter our lives. ‘How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of his
heaven. No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ
enters in.’ When you come to worship this Christmas, we invite you to
come with the expectation of meeting the Lord Jesus Christ. With this
expectation in mind, we pray you will get what you are expecting this Christmas
— His everlasting light is still shining upon human hearts tonight. That great
saving love of God is freely given to all who turn from this world of sin, and
instead invite Christ in! Wishing you all the joy of Christ in your heart this
Christmas. Sam, Paula, Peter, Naomi & Michael Wright |
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