Luke 2:11

I think most of us would agree that the end of 2020 could not arrive quickly enough. A worldwide pandemic has kept us in its grip for the better part of 10 months and a national election fraught with questions, doubts, and upheaval on every side has left many disillusioned. The church has faced the closing of its doors for months on end. Add in the fear and misinformation, the relative ease with which we settle into bad spiritual habits, the cancellation of church life and services, and we arrive at Christmas wondering how we have survived it all.

In many ways, the arrival of Jesus Christ on that first Christmas day found a world similarly dominated by fear and hopelessness. I trust our world this year has been brought through these great challenges to prepare hearts for the Good News of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate today. I am looking for revival in 2021 as the message of our Lord is shared by His people to a world that has been brought to the end of itself.

As God’s people, we know of His goodness, great love, and provision for our sin and there has never been a better time for us to shout it from the rooftops, even as the angels declared to the shepherds that first Christmas morning (Luke 2:11). For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. I am anticipating a harvest of souls as a result of the message of Christmas. Tell someone the true story of the Child born in Bethlehem, for with all that has been going on, I believe they will now listen with great interest.

Merry Christmas from the fields white unto harvest,

Pastor Jack Abeelen and the staff at Morningstar Christian Chapel