I love the wide open spaces along the Sefton coast. Ainsdale in the middle of winter, with the sun disappearing behind the Welsh hills, and not a soul to be seen is refreshing and wonderful. But what makes it infinitely more wonderful is the knowledge of the Creator who made it all, and ensures that our sun rises and sets day by day. Truly it is God who makes the going out of the morning and evening to shout for joy. The knowledge of the God who made all this for His glory and our pleasure, and the assurance of our being known by, and redeemed by that same God makes the moment of standing by the sea, watching the sun set to be one of joy that far too many inhabitants of this world never experience.

So, enjoy the sunrise and the sunset, whether you see it, photograph it or just live through it, knowing that there is joy in knowing and being known by our Creator God

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:1 ESV)

There are two stories that we talk about at Christmas: one involves Father Christmas, snow and presents – it is a complete fabrication (apart from any perceived link between an overweight red suited gift bringer and an ancient Saint called Niclaus); the other is Real, Remarkable & Relevant.

Real

The story in Luke’s Gospel is rooted in cold hard fact.The story begins with the background surrounding the birth – it specifies times and places and people. These are the hallmarks of a genuine history, not a fairy story. The birth and life of Jesus is a fact.

Remarkable

The birth of one child in the middle of such a time of upheaval is entirely unremarkable – what is remarkable are the events that accompanied this particular birth. We are told that an angel came to the shepherds and announced the birth as one bringing Good News. This child was, and is special. His birth fulfilled many promises that God had made to His people and would bring about the means for salvation and reconciliation to God for all people! This news was so remarkable that at the conclusion of the announcement the entire heavenly host burst forth into spontaneous praise and worship! Now that is remarkable!

Relevant

How is this relevant to us so many years later? The announcement was made to ordinary people – shepherds – because the message is for “all the people”, that’s you and I! The need for people to be forgiven and reconciled to God is just as urgent today as it was 2000 years ago. The great news is that Jesus has promised to return, to claim those who have responded to the loving gift of His life for our sins, to take us to be with Him. That will also be real, and remarkable – I trust it will also be relevant to you…

How do we treat our fellow believers? Whether we are in a position of authority within a local church, or a born again believer seeking to serve God, what is our starting point? Sadly, all too often, we are quicker to tear down than to build up, we’d rather complain than compliment. The Bible makes it clear that our starting point for all relationships is our relationship with God. We are all ‘beloved brethren’!

Paul, as an apostle commissioned by Christ to build the Church was continually in conflict with those who sought to use the Church for their own selfish ends, as well as with those who through foolishness or fear retreated from or  failed in their faith. In nearly all Paul’s letters, even when there is conflict to be resolved or theology to be righted there is a statement of thanks for the believers. 1 Thessalonians is typical. The crucial verse is 1:4. Paul can give thanks for the believers in Thessalonica primarily because they are loved by God and chosen by Him! The basis for our relationship with other Christians is the fact that they are ‘loved by God’ and ‘chosen by him’ – if God has set His love on someone, and chosen him for His own purposes then we must deal lovingly and graciously with them as the objects of God’s love.

We will never be without conflict within the Church – there will be disagreements and debates, issues of discipline and theology, questions over motive and method – but we must never lose sight of the fact that we are all living by faith in one God, labouring in the same love of one God, steadfast in our One Hope – the Lord Jesus Christ. So, let us give thanks for one another, for our faith, work, hope in Christ. Let’s encourage and build up in the Lord. Let’s see one another’s position as loved by God and chosen by Him as the foundation our relationships one with another. Then God will be glorified in His Church as He intends!

We live in a consumer culture, we take so much more than we receive. In fact, we have such a wealth of consumables that we tend to think very little of what we take in. I’m thinking in particular about the modern connected world, where news and views, opinions and art are all freely available in such quantity that we become almost numb to what we receive.

For the believing Christian it’s not just the quantity of the content that is the problem, it is the source of it: this present world is the source of most of the information and entertainment that we consume, and this present world is diametrically opposed to the Christian faith.

What do we do? We pray with the psalmist:

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm 119:18 NIB)

And, as we pray, we seek with all our hearts, and by His grace to consume only that which is edifying to us, and pleasing and glorifying to God.

Despite his reputation as the weeping prophet, the book of Jeremiah is full of hope. God promises that we will be His people, and He will be our God! What a promise! But the problem has never been with God, it has always been with us. In Jeremiah chapter two we are told that Israel have committed two sins: they have rejected God and all that He has to offer and they have turned to seek their own satisfaction from that which is of their own creation.

This is original sin – in the Garden of Eden Satan told Eve that she would become independent of God by taking of the forbidden fruit. She would be able to determine her own desires and make her own way in the world – her source of satisfaction would be of her own making, and no longer of God.

Of course, if God is who He claims He is, then this act of seeking to be satisfied in anything or anyone but Him is the greatest sin, the most offensive offence, the grievous hurt. To reduce ourselves to seeking to please ourselves outside of God is the essence of all that went wrong in Eden.

But, Jeremiah is full of hope as God assures us that He will ultimately deal with our sin, and the underlying attitudes that drive it. By His grace and through His Spirit He will draw us to seek our satisfaction in Him alone once again!

“and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord” – Jeremiah 31:14

It’s an incredible promise, given our penchant for turning our backs on Him, but He is faithful:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” – Jeremiah 31:3

This hope is what inspires us to seek Him afresh, by His grace, for His glory, and for our complete and utter satisfaction!