by Ken Hale
HASTINGS, MI – WOW!!! Here we are coming to the close of 2020 and what a year it has been. Pandemic, presidential election, protest, paranoid people, and panic. It seems like the world is looking for someone or something to bring peace, joy, and fulfillment during these difficult times.
This sounds like a story I know from the Bible where people were looking for a political leader to save them from their situation of difficult times. In the middle of that, a promise would come out of Bethlehem to bring a peace people had not known.
Imagine a group of men sitting in a field watching livestock and all of a sudden, they hear,
“Do not be afraid, there will be a great joy which would be for all mankind!”
Then came heavenly voices praising and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men.”
They may have wondered what in the world was going on.
In the midst of it all was a promise fulfilled from nearly 7000 years earlier. These people, just as multitudes today, are walking in darkness, but there was a promise they would see a great Light and that Light would shine upon them. This promise was for a child to be born and the government would rest upon His shoulders.
“His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Yes! We do need a little Christmas! Right here, right now, in the midst of turmoil, unrest, pandemic and politics. We need to celebrate the birth of our Savior and remember that it is Jesus that said,
”Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
We need a little Christmas!
I want to share with you a great Christmas gift that I received while I was trying to write this article. I received a phone call from a young man crying on the phone. It was one of my family members who had wandered away from the Lord many years ago. Through tears and weeping he said he was so sorry for the way he had treated family and He realized he wanted Christ and his father back in his life. Need I say that there were tears in my eyes and rejoicing in my heart as my wife and I had been praying and calling out our children before the Lord. I got a BIG Christmas!!
I got a little Christmas in a big way. God was showing me He is still on the throne and that He is still in control. God keeps His promises and yes, for many years we wondered what would happen to our children. God gives Christmas in ways that can’t be bought.
So, if you find yourself needing a little Christmas, remember it is JESUS and what He is all about. In a year that has brought many ups and downs, I get to celebrate Christmas early praising God for what He has done with one of my children.
Do you need a little Christmas? Just remember that while 2020 has not been the greatest of years for many, God is still on the throne and working in people’s lives.
Just remember, if you need a little Christmas, “Jesus is the reason for the season!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ken Hale is pastor of Community Baptist Church of Hastings. He has been in ministry for more than 40 years and is married to his wonderful wife, Carol.
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