It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;  and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

In 1963 Andy Williams recorded a Christmas song, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, which has remained popular ever since.  The song speaks of kids jingle belling, people being of good cheer, friends coming to call, much mistletoeing, telling tales of glories of Christmases long ago.  There’ll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow.  It’s the happiest season of all.  It is the most wonderful time of the year.

For Christians what makes Advent and Christmas the most wonderful time of the year is celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose name is Wonderful, Wonderful Counselor. Not merely is Jesus wonderful but He is Himself a Wonder through and through.  The Messiah is not merely some one who is extraordinary, but as One who in His very person and being is a Wonder:  He is that which surpasses human thought and power; He is God Himself.  This Child who is born for us is Wonder.

Jesus Christ is a Wonder because He did what nobody else could do.  He left heaven, was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life and died in order to pay the penalty for our wickedness and to make it possible for us to have blessed fellowship with our Creator.   

Jesus Christ is called Wonderful Counselor.  To sit upon the throne of David as Messianic King requires wisdom such as no mere human being can possess.  The Counselor Himself must for that reason be a Wonder in order that He may establish and administer His kingdom.  This Wonderful Counselor is properly equipped to redeem and to rule over His people.

The Advent and Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year because Christians celebrate the birth of the Wonderful Counselor, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Redeemer of humankind.  It is the most wonderful time of the year because we acknowledge the fact that the Wonderful Counselor, God Himself, has left His throne in glory and came to be with us.  Immanuel, God with us. It is the most wonderful time of the year because Jesus Christ, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace has come to save His people and to dwell among His people. 

Have a wonderful season of Advent and a Wonderful time at Christmas, celebrating the birth of the Wonderful Counselor.  Joy to the World. The Lord has Come.  Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare Him room.  And heaven and nature sing.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year,

Pastor and Jean Chaya

Dear Members and Friends,

In the midst of all the chaos and confusion in our nation right now, as the rhetoric and personal attacks escalate, as the nation becomes more and more polarized, there is now a great opportunity for the church of Christ to sound the trumpet of truth, to be the salt and the light, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the only one hope for lost souls. 

The problem for many Christians is they have lost their saltiness, many have put a cover over their light and others are sounding an indistinct note on the trumpet and sound no different from the world in addressing the present day issues.  As a result, the mission and message of the church has been compromised.  People are confused, people are perishing.  1 Cor 14:7-9  If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

The Apostle Paul was aware of how the mission and message of the church would be compromised, and he counseled his young pastor Timothy with these words:

 1 Tim 6:20-21  O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. 

2 Tim 2:14-17  Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene.

2 Tim 4:1-5  I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

May God grant us the grace to be the salt in this decaying world, to be the light in the darkness and to sound the trumpet with one distinct note – Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Thank you,

Pastor Chaya