Declaring Good News for You!

Pray that God will fill the Slavic believers with a hunger for His Word: "Desire the sincere milk of the Word" (1 Peter 2:2), and a spirit of prayer: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Ask God to call many young men and women to serve Him sacrificially and sincerely in places of leadership. Pray that some will choose to serve in other Slavic countries as missionaries. Intercede for the Christian leadership in Eastern Europe that they will withstand the powers of darkness and remain stable in their spiritual roles.

There is a very personal message in the Christmas story that is frequently missed by many. The birth of Jesus is not simply an interesting fact of history wholly unrelated to your present existence. It has direct bearing upon your life.

When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, the personal importance of His coming was clearly emphasized. "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

Do you realize that it was for you that the Savior was born? God sent His Son into the world to become your Savior. "I bring you good news… there has been born for you a Savior." Yes, it was for you that Jesus came to this earth!

He did not come to be the inspiration for sacred paintings, nor the theme of festive songs, much less to be merely a good man or great teacher. On the contrary, Jesus came to be a Savior and He came specifically for you!

Bound inseparably together are the Savior's amazing birth and His atoning death. He came to save. But to save, He must die — die in the place of sinners, bearing the fully penalty of divine wrath for sin. "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). His death also was for you!

This personal message of God's love demands a personal response. Jesus the Savior was God's gift to you. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). To receive this gift of God by faith, you must believe that Jesus Christ actually was born to be your Savior. Acknowledge that He died for your sins and apply His righteousness to your life. Then await for His second coming, as you live a sanctifying life that shows that He is your Savior! "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-7

Pray that the Gospel will reach the millions in the Slavic countries that have not yet heard what Christ has done for them. Many small cities and towns still do not have an official place of worship. Ask God to help the Slavic churches be effective witnesses in their neighborhoods. Pray that souls will continue to be saved, baptized and discipled through the ministries of the church. Pray that the Holy Spirit powerfully and persistently will convict men of sin and lead many to believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.