The Citizen, 2014-12-25, Page 37THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014. PAGE 37.
By Rev. Mark Royall
Huron Chapel Evangelical
Missionary Church
“…the angel reassured them.
‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. “I bring
you good news that will bring great
joy to all people. The Saviour—yes,
the Messiah, the Lord—has been
born today in Bethlehem, the city of
David! And you will recognize Him
by this sign: You will find a baby
wrapped snugly in strips of cloth,
lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12
Isn’t it interesting how God
choose to send the world’s Saviour
into the world as a baby? I mean, it
wouldn’t have seem odd to us if
Jesus, the mighty Son of God, had
come to us ferociously riding on a
chariot wearing armour, carrying a
sword and shield to demonstrate His
power. However, God decided to
come to us as a baby. There is
nothing intimidating about a baby.
On the contrary, babies put us at
ease. They make us smile. We talk
silly around babies. Our defences are
down around them.
Also isn’t it interesting to note that
when Jesus was born, His birth was
not accompanied with nationwide
attention with red carpets being
rolled out and trumpets blowing to
herald His birth? On the contrary,
Joseph and Mary could not find a
place for their child to be born. They
had to settle for the Son of God to
come into the world in a stable.
Instead of cheering crowds and
dignitaries being present, Jesus’
birth had to be witnessed by barn
animals.
There was nothing to threaten or
intimidate us about Jesus’ arrival
into the world that first Christmas.
The same is true for His life and
message when He grew up. As an
adult, Jesus gave us His mission
statement for coming into the world
saying, “For God did not send His
Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through
Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)
Jesus did not need to condemn the
world because our sin has already
done that for us. He came to save us
from the sin which already
condemns us. The Bible tells us
something we may not want to hear,
but that we need to hear about our
lives. In Romans 3:23, it says this,
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall
short of God’s glorious standard.” I
have no problem admitting that. I
know I have sinned. I know I have
acted and lived in contrast to how
God had created and purposed for
me to live. I have fallen short. The
first step to safety in Christ is to
admit that truth for ourselves. It is to
plead, “guilty” and this requires a
humble and contrite spirit.
Some people will struggle at this
point. Pride and anger keeps them
from admitting their need. They
don’t like to be told they are in
trouble and need help. At that first
Christmas we find such a man
named King Herod. The Bible says
Herod was “deeply disturbed” when
he heard about Jesus’ birth. Later it
says he was so furious about Jesus
coming into the world that in an
attempt to rid the world of Jesus, he
had all the male boys aged two and
under killed. It didn’t work and
Herod remained angry and vigilant
against God for the rest of his days.
There are people today who still
choose to be defiant against Christ.
They don’t like to be told who they
are. They don’t like to be told they
need to be helped.
Pride does this. They think that
God has come to condemn them but
the truth is, we have already
condemned ourselves. Jesus came to
save us. The Bible wants us to
understand this fact when it says,
“For the wages of sin is death, but
the free gift of God is eternal life
through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Our sin, my sin has earned me and
us eternal death. That is what my sin
has earned me but God offers you
and I a gift of salvation. It is the gift
to be freed and saved from the
consequences of our sin. This
salvation is something we cannot
earn but it can be received. If you
haven’t already, I hope this
Christmas you will humbly come
before God and admit your need. I
hope you would confess your
disobedience and acknowledge that
Jesus has come to save you because
He loves you.
You may have seen people hold up
a sign with John 3:16 on it at a
sporting event. John 3:16 is a
message of hope for us all. It says,
“For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting
life.”
J. Edwin Hortel once broke this
verse down this way:
God – the greatest lover.
So loved – the greatest degree.
The world – the greatest number.
That He gave – the greatest act.
His only begotten Son – the
greatest gift.
That whoever – the greatest
invitation.
Believes – the greatest simplicity.
In Him – the greatest person.
Shall not perish – the greatest
escape.
But – the greatest difference.
Have – the greatest certainty.
Eternal life – the greatest destiny.
I hope you choose the greatest gift
ever given, Merry Christmas.
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph’s
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
Nursery care available
519-887-9017
Worship & Sunday School - 10 am
Coffee & Snacks - 11 am
We invite you to join our church family in:
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28
Christmas Eve Service - 7 pm ~ Everyone Welcome
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, December 28
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
BRUSSELS
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am
All Welcome
United Church
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div.
Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Church bookings: 519-887-6377
Other concerns: 226-963-1175
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Wednesday, December 24 ~“Candlelight Service ~ Who Do You Worship?”
Sunday, December 28 ~“Last Chance to Carol for 321 Days”
Sunday, January 4 ~“January: A Strategy or Resolution”
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.
Children
Welcome
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Christmas Service ~ 10:00 a.m. ~ Thursday, December 25
Sunday, December 28 ~ No evening service
Wednesday, December 31 ~ New Year’s Eve Service 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 1 ~ New Year’s Day Service 10:00 a.m.
HURON CHAPEL’S
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
BEGINS AT 7:30PM
huronchapel.com
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
December 24 ~ 7:30 p.m.
Evangelical Missionary Church
Small Groups Weekly in Blyth & Wingham
“Savouring Salvation’s
Significance”
Worship
From the Minister’s Study
Royall recounts Jesus’s humble beginnings
ON $6.00 THURSDAYS
Drop into either of our offices any
Thursday with your word classified
(maximum 20 words) and pay only
$6.00 + HST (paid in advance).
That’s $1.00 off regular rates.
The Citizen