The Christmas Message

Scripture:

Luke 2:9-11
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them;
and they were terribly frightened.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (NASB)

Observation:

This “Good News” which announced the arrival of baby Jesus is indeed as joyful today as it was two thousand years ago to these lowly, yet righteous shepherds. Knowing that the Creator of life left the glory of heaven to take on a fully human existence in order to live and suffer and die so that all peoples of the world would be set free from the power of sin and death, and have the opportunity to share in His heavenly glory is truly, my friends, a reason for us to rejoice.

Application:

The hope that Christmas brings (this greatest event in human history) is for everyone who ever was or will be borne into this world; from the lowest to the highest; for the poorest to the richest, and for the worst of us to the best of us. The birth of God into this fallen world has given us the only hope there is, if we are to experience any peace at all while living this hard and unpredictable life that spares no one the pain and uncertainty that it brings. There are so many deprived people in this world who live every day of their lives in disease and hunger and in persecution and fear; innocent people who are hoping for something; for anything that will ease the darkness they are living in. But even for those who suffer unmercifully there is the Good News, for when Jesus brings the hope of heaven into their lives, it becomes their peace and joy and the one thing they can look forward to with certainty—the only Truth that will bring comfort and peace to their weary souls. Christ Jesus is the only Hope anyone has in this cruel and unforgiving world. Only Jesus has the power to truly comfort and bring peace to our weary souls; souls who long for the pain and suffering to end so that they, too, can find some joy in living.
If the Lord our God had not been borne to us, our Savior, this world would be a place without hope, without joy, and without the only Light that saves us from the dark wrath that this fallen world brings. I pray that the hand of God will touch all people this Christmas Season, so that every soul would hear the truth of why we should celebrate this special time of year. The birth of Jesus our Lord brings both joy and light to the world—a world that needed the Savior then, and a world that is still very much in need of the Savior today!

Prayer:

I now find much joy in this difficult life, dear Lord, thanks to the loving grace and mercy that show us who You are. You are truly the joy that lights the world and causes us to rejoice, even when rejoicing is the least of things we want to do. Thank You, O LORD, for the saving power that your birth and death and resurrection have given us, for without You………There would be no life.