“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! This is the holiday of celebrating “the appearance of grace and the love for mankind by our God and Savior!” (Titus 3:4) This is a celebration of God’s saving grace for all people! (Titus 2:11) This is the manifestation of God’s love, “which was demonstrated in that God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).
We love Christmas traditions, decorations, carols, and gifts, but it is so important to not forget the main gift of Christmas. Jesus Christ our Lord is the reason for this season. The Apostle John writes about this by saying: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). People can accept God’s gift of salvation on God’s terms. A person must have a childlike faith in Jesus Christ, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
At our present time, when the world is full of evil, death, and wars, our hope, joy, and peace can only be found in Jesus Christ. He is our reality, and our hope! He is the center of this holiday season. Without a personal relationship with Christ as our Savior, this holiday will lose its meaning. Let us carry the light of the Gospel to those who are still living in spiritual darkness. May the Christmas season be a time for the genuine “personal salvation” of every person on earth, so that we can say with the Apostle Paul: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15)
President of PCSBA, Ivan Mileyev
