But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” ~ Luke 2:10
By mid November, several people told me they had already decorated for Christmas. When I expressed surprise, one person said, “Christmas just makes me happy.” Can we blame people for wanting “happy” to come early?
And we’d like everything that Christmas symbolizes to stay around too! I recently heard a new song, “Christmas Every Day,” that ends with these lines:
Sometimes I just wish that
I could always feel this way
Like it’s Christmas every day . . .
I hear such longing in these lyrics despite the jaunty tune. There’s a reason why this holiday so resonates with people, why they want it to stay. Christmas symbolizes a world at peace, every heart at peace, every relationship at peace.
Our times have been challenging, and we wonder what new disasters the future might hold. Perhaps this is why people seem to be looking for hope more than ever.
Hope is exactly what the angel brought to the shepherds quaking in their sandals when he said, “Do not be afraid . . . Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
The joy of the message quickly dispelled all fear. Good news! the angel said. No need to fear, the angel said. Rejoice!
You have a Savior!
You have a Messiah, the Lord!
It’s been two thousand years since Jesus’ birth, and people today still long for good news. They yearn for joy. They want the love, joy, and peace of Christmas to be with them always. They need to hear that the Savior, the Messiah has come. For them.
They need to know that with Jesus in their hearts, they really can have Christmas every day!
Will we tell them?
Prayer:
Lord, help us share this joyous news with as many as we can. Amen.
by Ruth Wood
used by permission
Further Reading
- The Christmas Story – the story of Jesus Birth
- Marvelous Love – A Story of a Mother’s Love
- The Christmas Story: Does It Still Matter?