The Pilgrim Path---John 1: 14—18

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fulness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

GRACE AND TRUTH…

Trending for some time: conspiracy theories. Merriam-Webster defines conspiracy theory as, “a theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as a result of a secret plot by usually powerful forces.” Here are several I have heard and read. I do not endorse the validity of any of these conspiracy theories. I merely list a few as examples:

---Alien movements (such as UFO’s) are known of---and under suppression by---the U. S. Government. These are being studied and may bring technology forth---useful to the Armed Services. All Classified.

---A vast network of pedophiles and sex-traffickers exists among North America’s Elite---many of whom even sacrifice children to foster ongoing devotion to their devilish ends. They have infiltrated every medium of human endeavor for their secret cabal: politics, medicine, education, entertainment, etc.,

---You would never drink water from Municipal Water Systems. They are designed by the Government to change your neurological fabric. A tool of the state to foster dominance among its citizens…

---Vaccines are “used” by the powers that be---to track your movements. Some more sophisticated versions---reorient your thinking and behavior…thus you never participate…

---Vast subterfuge exists within the U. S. Government. It is controlled by a select society of insiders---who possess all the power---for all decisions. The so called three “branches” of government “exist” to do their bidding. All opponents are removed---or eliminated (more of the later).

As my dear wife reminds me, “There is a conspiracy---spiritual and influential.”

Listen to the Apostle Paul:

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as LORD, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The devil conspires against the whole race---and he even works as an angel of light at times!

The LORD Jesus came in the flesh---to shatter the darkness! We are darkness--- without Him. He really enables us to “see” for the first time: see our iniquity---see His forgiveness---see His blood washing the foulest clean---see Him risen from the dead for Us---showing He can keep All who trust Him forever! See Him-- enabling Us to walk His paths---picking Us up when we fall---ever drawing Us toward the Light---He is the Light, and in Him is no darkness at all!

From Horatius Bonar:

Bethlehem becomes a link between heaven and earth. God and man meet here and look each other in the face…

---Would you learn the way to God? Go to Bethlehem: The Infant in the manger is the way.

---Would you learn the vanity of the earth? Go to the manger where the LORD of glory lies.

---Would you have a safeguard against worldliness and sin and error? Keep the child’s companionship.

---Would you learn to be humble? Go to Bethlehem; there the highest is the lowest.

---Would you learn self-denial? See the Word made flesh.

“You cannot understand Christmas without Good Friday, the meaning of the cradle unless we see the shadow of the Cross.” Alexander Maclaren

HYMN

All my heart this night rejoices as I hear far and near sweetest angel voices.

“Christ is born,” their choirs are singing till the air everywhere now with joy is ringing.

Forth today the Conqueror goeth, who the foe, sin and woe, death, and hell, over-throweth.

God is man, man to deliver; his dear Son now is one with our blood forever.

Shall we still dread God’s displeasure, who, to save, freely gave his most cherished Treasure?

To redeem us, he hath given his own Son from the throne of his might in heaven.

Paul Gerhardt, 1653

PRAYER

O God,

Whose blessed Son was manifested that he might

Destroy the works of the devil,

And make us the sons of God,

And heirs of eternal life;

Grant us, we beseech thee, that,

Having this hope, we may purify ourselves,

Even as he is pure;

That when he shall appear again

With power and great glory,

We may be made like unto him

In his eternal and glorious kingdom;

Where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost,

He liveth and reigneth, ever unto God,

World without end. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason