“Name of Jesus, softly stealing; o’er a world of strife and shame. Thou canst bring us heavenly healing. Oh, Thou all-restoring Name.”
The only true and lasting hope of the world is Jesus. He, the Word made flesh, (John 1: 14) was in the beginning with God, and in-Him was life and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:2 & 4)
During every period in history, there have been those whose lives have been transformed through the power of faith in Jesus. They have become a living testimony to the effectiveness of the ministry of Jesus Christ, who came into this world to seek and to save that which was lost. The name of Jesus does not strike fear into those hearts which have become His dwelling place. Instead, their psalm is expressed in these words written by John Newton: “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear. It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fear. It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the troubled breast. ‘Tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary rest.”
Throughout our lives the name of Jesus has offered us spiritual renewal as God has allowed us to draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Is. 12: 3) With the coming of Christmas, we are again given the opportunity to share in the joy of the event of the ages–the time in which God sent His Son into the world to bring us redemption. Let our celebrations of this holy day be such that nothing will dim our vision of God’s good wil1 toward His created children. May we also be given a clear and unclouded perception of what the coming of Jesus can still mean-to this troubled and chaotic world.
Current world events command the attention of all people. Fear of the dreadful consequences of war pervades today’s conversations. Many do want to press on in the cause of justice and liberation of the enslaved, while others seek to turn away from conflict since the danger seems yet so far removed from our own peaceful shores.
As we celebrate Christmas, let us ask the Lord to renew our vision of the spirit of His coming as it was expressed by the angels when they said: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2: 14) He came to fulfil the prophecy that “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Is. 9: 2) In reading the gospel message and singing the ‘hymns and songs of Christmas, may we again sense the benefits and blessings which have come to this world in this expression of God’s love. As we lift up our hearts in praise, we can sing joyfully:
"Jesus, Name of wondrous love!
Name all other names above!
Name at which must every knee
Bow in deep humility.
"Jesus, Name of priceless worth
To the fallen sons of earth.
For the promise that it gave:
Jesus shall His people save.
"Jesus, only Name that's given
Under all the mighty heaven
Whereby man, to sin enslaved,
Burst his fetters, and is saved."
Christmas is a time of caring and sharing–a time for the expression of our love and concern for others. It is always encouraging to see the efforts which are made to relieve the anxieties of the less fortunate by sharing the material gifts over which God has made us stewards. While not forgetting these opportunities, let our celebrations keep foremost in our minds the spiritual needs of the un regenerated world which lives in darkness and under the domination of satan.
Let us pray for spiritual awakenings among many people because we believe that the gift of faith in Jesus Christ still has power to change individual lives and to alter the course of nations.
From the archives of the late Pastor A.C. Holmgren from December 1990
Submitted by Pastor Stan
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