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Mary's story...
     ...your story?

I'm at Nairobi airport. It's 4.30am. What boss would expect his servant to work at such an hour? Such a place? Yet what an exciting life, with new horizons, challenges and a multitude of new friends. It was my "First Christmas" that opened the way to those new horizons.

Mary's Christmas

Mary, an ordinary, insignificant peasant girl, trying to get to sleep one hot, dusty night in the overlooked little village of Nazareth, is frightened by an angel. Her mind grapples with the amazing news that even though she's a virgin, she will have a child. "How can this be?" she exclaims. Then she decides to humbly accept God's will, in spite of the stigma of public opinion and rejection, to welcome the Holy Spirit to come and make her the mother of Jesus. Did she understand incarnation, virgin birth, atonement and the 'Marriage Feast of the Lamb'? No, but she accepted the Holy Spirit in simple, humble obedience. She continued to walk with him to become the most famous woman in the world.

Nicodemus' Christmas

One dark night, two thousand years ago, Nicodemus came to Jesus. He was probably searching for that gift of Christmas - eternal life (John 3). This religious leader, ruler and teacher discovered that all his wordly wisdom and position and knowledge were not the answer. Jesus told him he had been born of water but now needed to be born of the Holy Spirit. "Nicodemus, you must be born again!" Mary had humbly received the Holy Spirit and God's will for her life - now it was Nicodemus' turn. Well, did he receive eternal life and be born again (John 19.39)? It's for our eternal benefit that we ask that same question of ourselves.

Herod's Christmas

Herod was the King (Matthew 2.3). He was a proud and powerful man, trusting in his position, his reputation, his power and political influence. We know the story - he brought sadness across the nation, bereavement to so many families. The babies were slaughtered. All Herod's power and influence did not bring him eternal life, the gift of Christ. It brought death and sorrow. Mary humbled herself and received. Herod's pride and prejudice blocked him from even finding it. It is so important that we learn that it takes humility to receive a gift we could never earn or deserve. Pride in anything - wealth, position, education, even religion - blocks the way. Jesus saw the terrible consequences waiting for a world He loves so much. He preached more about hell, weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, than He did about heaven. His love and concern for us motivated that first Christmas, the battle with evil and the Devil, and His deep desire to rescue us from it all and open a doorway for us to know Him and live with Him forever. His death and resurrection opened the door for us to be forgiven and accepted in His family, the family of God!

Mary received - did Nicodemus? Herod didn't. What about you?

Where we spend eternity rests upon our response to that one question. The very best 'King's News' is about the Christmas gift of eternal life. We are here at the King's to help, or phone us at any of these numbers if you want to know more.

God bless you with a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

Colin

If you want to begin a personal relationship with Jesus, please pray this prayer:- "Lord Jesus, I invite you into my life. I want to stop living life my way and start living it your way. I believe you died for me and that your blood pays for my sins and provides me with the gift of eternal life. By faith I receive that gift and I acknowledge you as my Lord and Saviour. Amen." If you've prayed the prayer and aren't sure what to do next, phone us on 01822 833844 or 01822 612100, or look up a local church in the Yellow Pages.

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