Thursday, December 14, 2023

          We all enjoy good news.  We would much prefer good news to bad news.  Good news is fun to share.  Sharing the good news or blessings of others is a wonderful show of friendship and fellowship.  Indeed, Paul commanded us in Romans 12:15 to “rejoice with those who rejoice.”  He was commanding us to share in the good news and good fortunes of others—to be delighted and happy when good things happen to others.  At this time of year, we rejoice over the good news of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.  The Christmas angel announced this news to terrified, yet amazed, shepherds.  The Bible says, “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).  News like this is worth savoring and celebrating.  We celebrate Christmas every year because this news deserves to be told and retold...remembered and revered...proclaimed and passed on.  This good news from the Christmas angel leaves us with at least five truths that we can recall and apply to our lives today.
            First, we have no reason to fear.  God is on the throne.  God is in control.  He orchestrated and directed the events of Christmas almost two thousand years ago.  And God still guides and directs the affairs of the universe today.  He reigns and rules!  We can approach His throne of grace with boldness and confidence.  We can live each day with His protection and power—whether we are in the valleys or the peaks of life.  God has defeated sin, sorrow and death.  The birth of Jesus was God’s power unleashed on behalf of all who believe and trust in His Son and His death and resurrection.
            Second, take joy in the birth of Jesus.  Share this joy.  Speak of your faith to others.  Offer the good news of Jesus to those who are facing sickness, despair or discouragement in life.  God is greater than any battle we could ever face.  His grace is infinitely sufficient and He promises to meet all of our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  You might want to underline the message of the angel in your Bible so you can remember it when a battle or trial comes your way.  We can easily confront the things that rob us of joy with the good news that God offers in His Word. 
            Third, the birth of Jesus was “for all people.”  He came not to save just one nation or one group of people.  He came to save the world.  No sin is too terrible or too awful for the power of God to save.  Christ paid the price—fully and completely so we could walk free in Him.  If you are reading these words, then you can take joy that Christ came for you.  He came to forgive you and to reconcile you with the Father.  Do not let anyone deceive you into thinking that you are too bad, too lost or too hopeless for the good news of Jesus.  He came precisely for people like you and me who had no other choice and no way to save ourselves.
            Fourth, Jesus is the Lord.  He is not a lesser god or a good teacher or only a worthy role model.  He is Lord.  He is God in the flesh.  John 1 tells us that He was in the beginning and that He became flesh to dwell among us.  To save us, God became like us—only without sin.  Jesus lived the life we could not live and died the death we most assuredly should have died.  No animal could do this.  We could not do this.  But thankfully, we do not have to play the role of Lord and Savior.  Christ is both—eternally, forever and always.  We can rejoice for Christ is King.  And our King is Christ.  The great carols of Christmas teach us that Christ is God—the incarnate King of the universe. 
            And fifth, if we turn from the Lord today or refuse Him, the fault is squarely our own.  Christ has done everything to accomplish our salvation.  He left His place beside the Father to dwell with us, to die on the cross and to rise again.  He lived the perfect life and became the perfect sacrificial lamb.  Paul described the work of Jesus in Philippians 2:6-8, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”  Paul’s words are majestic and magnificent to describe the perfect coming of Christ who glorified the Father fully and faithfully and made it possible for us to be in the family of God forever.  Have a great Thursday!  Remember you can worship any time at YouTube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.  Join us this Sunday for worship and Bible study and for our Christmas musical at 5:00pm!