OUTSIDE THE PULPIT: Remember to thank God for His gift

O come, Redeemer  of mankind appear,

Thee with full hearts the Virgin born we greet.

Let every age with rapt amazement hear. That wondrous birth which for our God is meet.

– Hymn 55: Verse 1 (Ancient And Modern).

CHRISTIANS around the world will be celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ tomorrow and will be thanking God for His gift to the world because it brings us together in amazing harmony.

I am sure there are people who do not take that day seriously and will argue that Jesus was not born on December 25 but whether that is the date or not is not important. The point is that He was born.

I am sure there are people whose birth certificate carries one date and the baptism certificate another but  you will accept one of those dates, especially when you are applying for your National Insurance pension.

As a people, let us remember that  we are special and God is great unto  us by giving us His son Jesus Christ. There must be something special  about Christmas and the celebrations because it grips the attention  of the world each year.

Christmas is a reminder that  we are called to live and share as Christians because God gave us Jesus Christ, His only Son, to be born for us so that we might be delivered from the bondage of sin and receive power  to become His children.

I do hope that you have not become too stressed out over the Christmas shopping period, trying to find that particular gift because we all have  that special gift in Jesus Christ.

A blessed Christmas and a bright 2016 to all my readers.