The Right Rev'd Laish Boyd Sr. Bishop of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands
 
"To them God chose to make known how great among the nations are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."  -- Colossians 1:27

At this Christmas time I greet all Anglicans and every resident or visitor in The Bahamas and in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Jesus was born to human parents about 2,000 years ago. The Bible and other historical texts refer to this event. It was more than just an event. It was God coming into the world as a human being. Christianity has grown. It spread from Palestine into Europe into Great Britain and from there into our Caribbean region and to all other parts of the world.

Human beings are not perfect and, in the name of religion, the church and her members have made some mistakes that have harmed the reputation of the church and done things to distort the truth of the gospel. However, this gospel truth remains the same:

o That God created a beautiful world.
o That God created human beings, wonderful creatures in His image.
o That God has always desired to be in close relationship with His creation. The story of the Old Testament is about God seeking this closeness in the history and lives of Israel.
o That God continued to love the world so much that He gave His one son to that world as a human being.
o That through Jesus, sin was conquered, death was conquered, and humanity could have a new and more personal relationship with God.
o God is relying on those of us who know Him to carry this message to the world. We are only frail mortals. We are not perfect, but through our acceptance of God and His Son Jesus, we make the right start. Such a start calls us to believe in the truth of His gospel, to acknowledge our sinfulness and to seek God's forgiveness, and to seek to live our lives daily the way that He would want.

This is what ordinary men and women, boys and girls have done in every age of human history. And this is why the message of the gospel and the influence of Christianity have grown and remained strong all through the centuries -- and even today. Our lives and our witness to the gospel are crucial.

You can make a difference. Touch a life. Help someone in need. Encourage someone today. Show love. Be kind. Why? All because God loves you and because God gave His son Jesus to us at Christmas.

Without our living and our actions, the true message of Christmas is meaningless. Without our living and actions, the true message of Christmas will not been seen and known.

Paul wrote to the Colossians (1:27) long ago something that is ever so true today: that God chose to make known the glory and mystery of Himself through placing Jesus in the world and in our lives. This is the hope for the best possible world, that is, Christ in each one of us.

The Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, my family and I extend best wishes for a Blessed Christmas and a meaningful New Year to every person, resident or visiting in The Bahamas and in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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