John 1:14

Jamie Anderson

I have spent the last 35 odd hours editing a 6 minute piece of video for the opening of a community carol service and the message of the video is the birth and life of Jesus. Now that has profoundly had an impact on me and I thought I would share my thoughts with you as we go into the Christmas season.

The life of Christ was God's moment in time as a human and is something quite divine. He became someone the disciples; a wild, crazy and mixed bag of weirdos, got to touch, see, talk with, listen to and learn from.

Why did the creator of the universe come to earth through a virgin, make Himself flesh and let His earth be home? Why did He pick a tax collector, a traitor, a doubter, a prostitute, a liar plus the rest of them as His friends?

There simply has to be a really good reason - I don't think it was a lottery. Maybe He wanted the whole world to know the depth and width of His love - no matter who you are, what you do, or don't do. Who you were, where you live or what your occupation is, what you might say or not say - He simply and powerfully LOVES YOU, no matter what. In fact He wants you to know it so well, that His death and resurrection gives you an absolute certainty that you will always be loved by Him.

John 1:14 says "the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son."

He (God) was and is full of UNFAILING LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS.

Our best friend was born in a manger, first seen by shepherds; not by kings. Befriended the poor and healed the sick, He is the friend of sinners and gave His life for us to be free.

What a gift and there's something to believe in! A divine God working through His humanity. He came here so we could go there.

This time of year means so many different things to everyone. In our faith, Jesus is the greatest gift of all and the real reason for the season but you don't have to travel very far to see, that for some - Jesus isn't even in the equation.

There are those who have never heard the message of Christianity, those who have heard a bad version of the message of Christianity and those who simply cannot or do not, want to hear the message, even some who have heard and rejected it. Which ever is the case - we must do our best to live the message in the same manner that Jesus did while He was on earth.

Take some time this Christmas to show someone; a friend, a family member or a total stranger, the reality of God's unfailing love and show His faithfulness by doing something for them, from your own life.

Try something simple, like a cup of coffee, a meal or even just a card that expresses the unfailing love of our Saviour, the King of kings, the Lord of lords; Jesus - the greatest gift of all.

I want to leave you with a prayer;

Father, thank you for your Son, His life, death and resurrection. I am grateful for the gift of eternal life and the message it carries. I pray that as the Christmas season nears you would give me opportunity to share with others, what you have freely given me - the gift of eternal life.

Be blessed as you move from 2007 to 2008; A year of new beginnings!