Jesus: KING of kings!

Redeeming Life family,

It's been a rough week.  I've heard many stories of our church family getting that nasty stomach bug that's going around.  That bug bombed my home too, leaving me and a couple kids wiped out.  If that weren't difficult enough, the city was oppressed by a heavy, heavy blanket of snow.  I don't know about you, but that hamstrung my schedule.  I've felt behind and defeated from the get-go.  Yes, it's been one of those weeks.  How about for you? 

A week like this one will often leave the Christian feeling a little less hopeful.  After getting sacked for a few days, it's hard to celebrate Christ's victory where God's Word says we dwell.  

But it's Christmas.  This is the time we should be even more mindful of Christ? Right?  After all, this is when the non-believing world tends to be more open to Jesus.  Songs and television programs celebrate the Emmanual.  God with us.  The Wonderful Counselor.  After all, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will rest on his shoulders" right? (Isaiah 9:6)   But even without a hard week, does the Christmas you celebrate point you to a little baby or a victorious King?  

I think many Christians, myself included, often miss the reality of Christmas.  We miss the magnitude of Christ entering our world to save us.  We miss the reality that he bought us with his blood and is our King.  And when we miss the magnitude of our King, we struggle to live in the hope, joy, and comfort of the victory that Jesus has already won.  

This Christmas, I am actually finding in more difficult to see the King.  Lights and shopping and social media seem to block my view.  Political arguments and debates and advisory warnings before classic Christmas cartoons and arguments over coffee cups seem to rob me of hope this season.  Yet in light of our Great King, these things are meaningless!  How can we cut through the muck of the world to see the KING of all kings and LORD of all lords? 

This Sunday, we'll be looking to see Jesus, the KING of kings. He's same Jesus we see in the manger this time of year, but he's also the victorious king on the throne.  Yes, that little baby is the KING of kings and LORD of lords.  In preparation for Sunday, take a moment and read Revelation 19:11-16.  

Also, here's a video update.  

See you Sunday and Merry Christmas! 
Pastor Bryan