By Pastor Wayne Frater

Radium Christian 

Fellowship Church

Here it is, only  a few days until Christmas. A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Light Up, Black Friday if you will, which is when the merchants kick off the Christmas season. And for the next month, each of us are  shopping for that special gift, for that special someone. My prayer is that in all the hustle and bustle of the season, we won’t forget why we celebrate Christmas. The real meaning of Christmas. 

What does Christmas mean to you? For me, it is a reminder that our God is a giving God,  His very nature is giving; John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave.”  

Who did He give? “His only begotten Son.” 

Why did He give? So “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  

On that Christmas Eve so long ago, that child, that Son, that gift was born. God sent an entourage of angels to announce to the world the birth of their Saviour. 

Luke 2:10-14 NKJ: “Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, laying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” 

I would like to take a moment and talk about that peace on earth the angels are so excited about. 

 Christmas time to some people is a very discouraging, depressing time, but it shouldn’t be. Jesus tells us in John 14:27  NLT: “I am leaving you with a gift —peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” 

People today are looking for true, inner peace. They search through relationships, addictions, money, gadgets and even religion to try to find something that will fill the void inside. But true peace, the kind of peace the angels told us about, isn’t found in anything this world has to offer, it can only be found through a personal  relationship with Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can satisfy the longing in our hearts and give us true, lasting peace. 

God gives freely, not as the world gives. We can’t earn it and we can’t pay for it. There’s no catch, no fine print and no strings attached. We can rest secure that He’s not ever going to take His peace away; He tells us “He will never leave us nor forsake us.” His peace is eternal! A life of peace begins when we invite Jesus to be our Lord and Saviour. Then as we align our thoughts, attitudes and actions with His Word, that peace will flood every area of our lives. 

That is what Christmas means to me. 

The angels heralded it, Jesus told us about it, and that peace on earth is available to each and every one of us.  

Will you receive that peace? All you have to do is believe in your heart, and profess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you will be saved.  

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” God bless you everyone, and Merry Christmas!