December 5th, 2021
If you have not already been welcomed into the Advent Season, let me do that for you now; Welcome Friends! This is the wonderful time each year that we as Christians get to share with family, friends, and strangers the hope of Jesus Christ. But as I am writing this I worry that we are not able to share this properly because we have not first welcomed Jesus Christ fully into our lives. I'd like to share something that a great friend of our church, Dr. Harry Smith, wrote in his book "Seasonal Devotions" about knowing Christ at Christmas. He says, speaking of Luke 2:15-20;
"When the shepherds had heard about the birth of the Savior they said, 'Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this child that the Lord has told us about!' It is important to not just hear about Christ but to meet Him as well. After their visit they went and told others about this amazing event."
It is important for us to "meet" the Savior, not just celebrate Him at parties or with gifts. It is possible for us to know of someone without actually knowing them. We know of Presidents and business leaders, athletes and musicians, but we don’t personally know any of these people. God has given us the resources we need to know Him in a personal way. This Advent Season I encourage all of us to ask the important question, "do I actually know the Savior?”
It is a blessing to serve with you,
Pastor Lance
