OzThoughts Tuesday 23rd December 2008

OzThoughts Tuesday 23rd December 2008

A few years ago after our afternoon sound check for a night time Carols by Candlelight concert, some of the bandsmen were standing around and as I walked up to them I heard a man in good casual clothes say “ we will be reminding the crowds all night that Christmas is really about Jesus dying for our sins” . One of the bands men answered “Yes, that is right”. With that the man walked away.

I did not know who he was but I thought “here is a man who has it right. He knows Jesus is not the reason for the season but we are. It was our sin and the penalty that Christ must pay for our sin that caused Christmas”. I thought about that a lot until the concert started.

As the concert started, it was time for the Organising Committee to welcome everyone. In fact, it was our friend who was previously talking to the bandsmen who did this. He welcomed the crowd and said there is one thing we must remember and that is “We celebrate at Christmas Jesus dying for our sins!” He said nothing about a “coming” or a “birth”.

The story of Jesus is more than “From birth to dying cry”. Christmas is just a joyful and wonderful part of the story.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, As I in my mind gaze at the babe of Bethlehem, help me to see the beginning and the end. I pray that I might be found faithful so I will be with him at the end. Amen.


The Master declares, "I'm A to Z. I'm THE GOD WHO IS, THE GOD WHO WAS, AND THE GOD ABOUT TO ARRIVE. I'm the Sovereign-Strong." Revelation 1 :8 The Message

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1 : 8 New International Version.

A light came out of darkness;
No light, no hope had we,
Till Jesus came from Heaven
Our light and hope to be.
Oh, as I read the story
From birth to dying cry,
A longing fills my bosom
To meet him by and by.

Chorus
Shall you, shall I, meet Jesus by and by?
And when we reach the Glory Land,
We'll swell the song of the angel band.
Shall you, shall I, meet Jesus by and by?

How tender his compassion,
How loving was his call,
How earnest his entreaty
To sinners, one and all.
He wooed and won them to him
By love, and that is why
I long to be like Jesus,
And meet him by and by.

Yet deeper do I ponder,
His cross and sorrow see,
And ever gaze and wonder
Why Jesus died for me.
And shall I fear to own him?
Can I my Lord deny?
No, let me love him, serve him,
And meet him by and by.
Author: William A. Hawley (1870-1929)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 94
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