Galatians 6:11-18 ¹¹ See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! ¹² It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised-- only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. ¹⁴ May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! ¹⁶ As for those who will follow this rule-- peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. ¹⁷ From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. ¹⁸ May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

We come to the end of Paul's Letter to the Galatians. We believe that the power of God is in the spoken and written Word. People like nice little "Reader's Digest" stories about people doing nice things for each other. You might want that in the newsletter and might want that in the sermon and Bible Class. Just give us a little push to try a little harder to be a little nicer. God will be pleased with me because I am a good person and try hard. How untrue.

Everything revolves around the cross and resurrection. You and I have been died for! Someone was put to death because of how The Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, look at us at birth and how we will be judged eternally. Our viewpoints do not count. Only the Lord's view of us counts: A. worthy of eternal condemnation, B. but IN CHRIST, gifted with eternal life and salvation. We are called to hear that message again and again, so that our old views do not lead us to unbelief and loss of the gift. That is the present gifted to us at Christmas.

Our performance (= circumcision) means nothing to the Lord in terms of our salvation, nor our good intentions. Our faith, given by the Spirit, to give us eternal peace with God, has made us a new creation. The world's concerns = "What did you get for Christmas?" means nothing. When people ask that, say: "I got eternal salvation from Jesus Christ and a whole different outlook on life and my purpose. I get to love people because Jesus died and rose for them and I am freed of my own viewpoints on what is important."

Our vocabulary becomes that of seeing each other as brothers and sisters. Blessed Christmas-to our family here in Christ. As always, be part of the weekly family gathering, to celebrate what the Creator and Lord of Life gives us for use with one another.

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp