God has done all that is necessary to make himself known. His work of creation surrounds us. His self testimony is within us through conscience, instinct, the perceptions of common sense, and his over-shadowings of our mind and awareness. His supernatural interventions and actions were observed and recorded by his people. He spoke through the Hebrew prophets, seers, and sages, and the writings compiled by them, their secretaries, and disciples. He has contacted mankind by works, wonders, and words. He has not been slack in communication. And to crown his self disclosure he came as a man to live among us for a period of more than three decades. To complete and conserve this series of “messages” and demonstrations of concern we have in our possession a Holy Book that sums up every connection to us he has made, and he has sent an Interpreter to make the inspired accounts plain. What more could be asked for that would not amount to  coercion and robot-like control, against which some humans would only complain? God has addressed us through our intellect and senses. He has revealed himself with power and courtesy. There is no omission in his faithfulness towards us as his creatures, but there are many flaws discernable in our faculties of reception. It does not have to be a “theological” insight to recognize that our nature is severely damaged, degraded, and dysfunctional. The hatred that exists so sadly towards our fellows is even more pronounced and vehement against God and every attempt is made to destroy, deny, defy, and deride all the avenues of approach he has made to us. Atheists ought to be more calm in their stance against God if he is non-existent, but they are greatly, sometimes feverishly, exercised in their objections. It may be that some folk actually are “God deaf”, but others, like Professor Dawkins, have to train themselves to erase him from their consciousness and obliterate the appearance of design and beauty, and the claims of justice and morality, from their minds as suggestions of the Eternal One. Just as believers are accused of basing their convictions on need and emotion, so, too, atheists harbour within themselves devices, designs, and desires that make God an “inconvenient truth”. When asked what he would like to say to God should he meet him at the moment of death, Bertrand Russell was reported as saying, by way of excuse for his scepticism, “What did you expect me to believe? You didn’t provide any evidence”.
 There are many reasons for individuals not being able detect evidence in various areas of experience. Those starved of affection through infancy and childhood become impervious to evidences of love and acceptance in later life. With the natural ear man hears no evidence of certain bird calls and other high pitched sounds that pass over his head totally, and if it is suggested he gains assistance through various means of technology, the believer can appeal to the gift of faith and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Faith is not mere belief of notions, propositions, or crass subscription to impossibilities, faith is a state of being, an ascent to another plane of awareness in communion with God where his viewpoint is shared and the invisible realm becomes visible. There is a block, mental and moral, in atheism and Christian faith would describe that as “the bondage of the will”. So much atheism quickly departs from rational dialogue to hostile language levelled at God – an odd response to a fictional figure. The disposition so clearly is this: God must not exist. The fact robs me of my “freedom”. As to Bertrand Russell, whose mother’s fear of hell must have been profoundly disturbing, Archbishop Donald Coggan reports that a friend, an eminent Anglican layman, was called to the dying philosopher’s bedside to pray for him. But, as the late Christopher Hitchens would allege in his own case, any yielding to prayer may simply have been the confused request of Russell, not as his true self, but as one whose brain had been addled and befuddled by illness (you cannot win with atheistic stubbornness but a sovereign God can and does, such is his great mercy as many reluctant trophies in heaven will prove).

 The magic, glistening, gilded letters and sublime language of Scripture testify so charmingly, informatively, and impressively to the methods of God’s outreach to man. In the past numerous prophets passed on the word of the Lord to Israel  which came to them and through them  in various situations and ways to show that no set standard or artificiality impeded the ingenuity of God in conveying specific utterances to certain persons  and audiences with maximum appeal and effect e.g. impressions, symbols, visions, Theophanies, and creaturely appearances human and angelic. God was versatile in the transmission of his will to his folk as might be expected from the living and creative God who expresses himself with such variety of speech and diversity of showings so that human interest is aroused.

 As wondrous as the divine presentation of the word happened to be throughout many generations, as is noted in the Old Testament, the ultimate revelation was given in his Son. The accolades and honours heaped upon the Son highlight his authority and humility in coming to us in these last days before the closure of our era in the final judgment. The Word, the mind, the light of God came in the supreme and unsurpassable way in Jesus Christ. There is no further instalment of soul saving truth that will bring us into union with God. Scripture imparts the sure knowledge of him and the Spirit confirms it as authentic and accurate.

 Jesus comes to us with the highest credentials of heaven. He is the maker and heir of all things. They are made his through the unification of earth and heaven by his conquest on the cross and coronation through his resurrection. Our Creator and King has visited us. He is the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact representation of his being, yet he lowered himself to become one of us and with us, which surely constrains us to pour contempt on all our pride. As we behold everything apparent to sense and faith we acknowledge him as the Sustainer who was pleased to divest himself of all the indications and insignia of his royal dignity and abase himself as a sacrifice for our purification and acceptance with God.

 And now he sits at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. After the complete success of his earthly assignment, “He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worship him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

 The Son whose coming we celebrate in this season is the One who took our nature and took away our sins. The Father sent him and he willingly came to speak to us and suffer for us. These facts are amazing. Majesty descended to our fallen world as Mercy. Though we wrested ourselves from him our Maker would not let us go. Though we have offended him with haughty mind and criminal action our Judge will not allow the just charges against us to stick. The Supreme and Exalted One has exalted us to his presence and favour. Words do not suffice in describing the miracle that began at the Nativity – the miracle of a glorious salvation wrought on earth. We shall have to implore the Spirit to increase our understanding and raise our praises this  Christmastide.

  Blessed Lord,   - Because of his perfection God is to be revered, and because of his perfection the Lord is blissful in his Being. Nothing marshis delight in himself and nothing can diminish the felicitous knowledge of the certain completion of all his wise and righteous designs. No being other than God can fully enjoy himself and be totally content with all that he desires or does. God is intrinsically worthy and the possessor of all excellence. As Lord he is above all that exists or can be imagined, and as Lord his supremacy and sovereign will extend everywhere and over all things without limit. Because he is perfect his will is good, because he is Lord all creation must submit to his will. We approach him to learn of that will and obey it. The fulfilment and freedom of man is found in compliance with the divine will. With adoration, gratitude, and affection we render our highest homage to him upon every encounter.

  You who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written  - God made man for fellowship and the enjoyment of himself. To this end he disclosed himself through his presence, actions, and speech. Holy Scripture is the record and continuing means of his self revelation. Inspired information, images, impressions, and insights are preserved in the miraculous Book of God and are available to those whom he illuminates with his heavenly truth, which he transmits to us through guided human thought and language. The work of the Holy Spirit within the human authors ensures that the words of men constitute the Word of God. Individual understanding and style characterize the Bible as human, but the cause of Sacred Scripture, and guarantee of its trustworthiness, are found in God, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” 2 Peter 1:21). Habitual intimacy with Scripture verifies this fact. The same Spirit who moved its writers moves reliant readers to the overwhelming conviction that they are reading and hearing the Word of God through the presence and influence of the Spirit of God himself. The contact is personal, poignant, and powerful. The Book in one’s hand is alive in one’s heart. It’s message is understood and felt.

  for our instruction  - Instruction is the answer to our ignorance and God’s inscrutability. How could the inwardly blind ascend to knowledge of the utterly sublime? It could only be through the condescension and gracious communication of the mind of God to the minds of men. The true knowledge of the Lord must come from above. It is not within the reach of man. We have to listen humbly to the Lord and pray that he will come to us in his word and teach us through it. Our attitude and approach are expressions of total dependence and earnest longing to know him. We only discover what he divulges.

  Help us so to hear them  -  “Help” is the first word on our lips as we open the Scriptures. Arrogant reliance on our acumen and expertise is excluded from the start. There is no study akin to Bible study. It combines spiritual and intellectual exercises and not only the use of a keen mind but also a clean heart. God must attune both to himself with a sweet submissiveness to his wisdom which cannot be fathomed by ours. When we take his word in our hands we hand ourselves over to him for his word of rebuke which works repentance, his word of promise which works faith, and his word of enrichment which brings strength and joy. “Help” is the frank admission of our helplessness and the key to his effectual aid. Every collect in the BCP conforms to Augustinian train of thought in that we are completely dependent on prevenient grace. “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure’” (sovereign determination, see Matt 11:25-26). No wonder the Lord Jesus advised, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9). The gift of hearing is a divine prerogative and inestimable human privilege.

  to read, note, learn, and inwardly digest them - These words emphasis the active and earnest way in which we take up and take in the Word of God. It is no casual occupation. Focus on the Word is not a hurried glance but a sustained gaze. A swift and superficial relationship with the Bible is spiritually hazardous and a hindrance to faith for thoughtful folk who witness the crassness that often passes for Christianity. Our refusal to chew meat in terms of doctrine causes outsiders to conclude that we actually imbibe sour milk. Slick “texting”, citing passages of Scripture without regard to Biblical context and the depth of its content, attracts ridicule rather than respect. We read searchingly and lingeringly, we hold words and concepts in our minds, probing them with honest and open enquiry, we learn, actually bow before the Word, rather than manipulate or presuppose the text, and then we ponder, reflect, and ruminate in prayerful meditation on specific assertions with an appreciation of their place in the whole spectrum of revelation. Our subjectivity is haughty and selective, attempting to take control of Scripture according to ingrained and often undetected bias. The Word commands our humility and assent.

  that by patience and comfort of your holy Word, - We are inclined to rush towards results when God would have us rest in the results he would achieve at his own pace. Waiting on the Lord is not an excuse for apathy but an “active” anticipation of divine possibilities suggested by his promises. We linger in his sure fulfilment of his sovereign purposes but also lean forward in stimulative trust. The Word affords the believer consolation and encouragement.

  we may forever hold fast the hope of everlasting life, - The goal of Scripture is not short term gratification and success in this life but the attainment of heaven and its glories through sanctification and suffering on earth by the divine enabling and constant manifestation of his faithfulness. God grants us his effort to “hold fast” to the pledge he has made to us. Grace always generates energy in the direction of seeking God and serving him with an inner urgency. It is not simply external busyness (about which we may boast) but interior resolve to be truly godly in ways that are instinctive but not advertised (Lord, when did we...? (Matt 24:37ff).

  which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. – In the whole matter of our redemption and restoration to God, from preparation to full possession of salvation, everything that happens for us and within us is a gift of God and through the merits and mercy of Jesus Christ. His is the action, externally and internally, that saves us, and there is no contribution from us. Even our necessary co-operation is caused and continued by him. God works for, on, and in us. It is comprehensively an accomplishment of grace. We are his workmanship from plan to product. His love was fixed upon us from eternity and fills us from the moment of our calling. Man does not will or work until God creatively lays his hand upon him and moulds him once again in the divine likeness, the image of Jesus Christ. We are inert until he enlivens us and implants his eternal life within us.