By Renee Ritchie (Senior Pastor, NCF Church).
Are you a fan of the festive season, or do you begin to twitch when you hear carols playing in shopping centres, way too early, for your liking?
Well, November had barely got out of the blocks this year, when I walked into one of our local shops and spotted the lovely and enthusiastic manager, ALREADY wearing a Christmas T-Shirt (one of numerous!) arranging Christmas paraphernalia. She told me that she just loves this time of year. Perhaps, she too is one of that rare breed of people, who still pen Christmas cards?
Apparently, Isaiah 9:6 is the most quoted Bible verse in Christmas cards. It says: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The prophet wrote this 700 years before the first Christmas, so we could view it as kind of a first Christmas card, from God to his people.
Actually, it is one of hundreds of verses in the Old Testament announcing the coming of Jesus. There is nothing in the history of the world comparable to the fact that hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, many things regarding him – even the place of his birth – have been foretold and recorded in the Old Testament scriptures.
The New Testament starts with what at first sight might seem like a dry genealogy, a most uninspiring opening. Yet when we understand that God coming to earth as a baby, is the fulfilment of prophecy and God’s big picture plan, we will be on the edge of our seats as soon as we read the words … ’record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham.’ ( Matthew 1:1). Jesus fulfils the promise God made to Abraham, that all families on earth will be blessed through him; and to David, that his line would last forever.
When retailers begin preparing for Christmas super early, I remind myself of how God prepared people for Christmas – Christ’s coming – centuries ahead of time, so that they would be ready.
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LIFE MATTERS The First Christmas Card
Dec 20, 2022
By Renee Ritchie (Senior Pastor, NCF Church).
Are you a fan of the festive season, or do you begin to twitch when you hear carols playing in shopping centres, way too early, for your liking?
Well, November had barely got out of the blocks this year, when I walked into one of our local shops and spotted the lovely and enthusiastic manager, ALREADY wearing a Christmas T-Shirt (one of numerous!) arranging Christmas paraphernalia. She told me that she just loves this time of year. Perhaps, she too is one of that rare breed of people, who still pen Christmas cards?
Apparently, Isaiah 9:6 is the most quoted Bible verse in Christmas cards. It says: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The prophet wrote this 700 years before the first Christmas, so we could view it as kind of a first Christmas card, from God to his people.
Actually, it is one of hundreds of verses in the Old Testament announcing the coming of Jesus. There is nothing in the history of the world comparable to the fact that hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, many things regarding him – even the place of his birth – have been foretold and recorded in the Old Testament scriptures.
The New Testament starts with what at first sight might seem like a dry genealogy, a most uninspiring opening. Yet when we understand that God coming to earth as a baby, is the fulfilment of prophecy and God’s big picture plan, we will be on the edge of our seats as soon as we read the words … ’record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham.’ ( Matthew 1:1). Jesus fulfils the promise God made to Abraham, that all families on earth will be blessed through him; and to David, that his line would last forever.
When retailers begin preparing for Christmas super early, I remind myself of how God prepared people for Christmas – Christ’s coming – centuries ahead of time, so that they would be ready.
About The Author
Jen Mitchell