Day 23 Advent Devotional | December 26th

Pastor Greg Whaley   -  

Luke 2:10-14

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. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

It is not Christmas without singing, is it? The angels inaugurated this kind of worship on the very first Christmas day. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased! We sing because Jesus has come, and the long wait is over. We sing because God is not content to be removed from our lives by our sin. He steps into humanity and history in order to rescue us from ourselves. The angles sang on that first Christmas and we have been singing ever since.

Good news of a great joy is worth singing about. The angel proclaimed that Jesus has come for all people. There is no one who must stay outside of the love of God. Everyone has access to the Father through the Son – this is the revolution that Jesus begins by coming and abiding with us in the flesh. We don’t have to fear as a people any longer. The power of sin and the dominion of death in our lives is cracked the moment Jesus steps into the scene. Our hearts can live free through His life in us.

And this is news that must be shared. Imagine if you knew the cure to cancer. Would you keep it to yourself, or would you shout it to anyone who would listen? Of course, you would share the good news – the scourge of cancer is no more, you can be free of it forever through this cure! Ever believer knows the truth of God’s saving power in their lives. We are called to share that good news, that gospel, to any and all who would hear it in our lives. So, sing and be not silent! Jesus has come and all can be saved by grace through faith.

Prayer: Father, I know the good news in my own life because You have saved me. Prompt me to share this good news with others as I make my way through life. Help me to be bold in my witness and fear not. It is the first words of the angels to the shepherds. Let it be the first word in my life, too.