Good news for ALL people

Familiarity breeds the loss of wonder. As we sit in the Christmas season, it can be so easy (at least for me!) to read the classic Luke 2 Christmas story and breeze by its implications. I have lost my childlike wonder over the miracle that is Christ’s incarnation and what that means for my life and for the world.

Luke 2:10 says, “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

How good do I believe this news is if I never share it? Good news is meant to be shared; it’s almost impossible to hold back from blurting out good news, so why is it so easy to grow complacent in sharing the good news?

This single verse alone tells us that because Jesus came to earth as a child–fully God and fully man–we now have access to God’s presence! This is worth celebrating!! And because I now have God’s presence within me in the Holy Spirit, I get to bring God’s presence with me wherever I go. My body is a mobile temple! Two questions I’ve been asking myself a lot lately are, “Where should I go?” and “To whom shall I go?” When I stop to consider myself as a mobile temple, the answer becomes simple: go to the poeple who need His presence, who need to hear the good news. I get to be the messenger of His glory to ALL people!

I also love that this verse says that it is good news of great joy. Yes, we sing about how joy comes to the world through Jesus, but how often do we actually pronouce the presence of joy in our own lives. Do people look at us as Christians and think us joyful people? Or as complacent, monotonous, rule-followers? My citizenship is in heaven, I’m just passing through earth on my way to go be with my Savior for the rest of eternity. I know that I get to spend the rest of my existence worshipping Him, so why would I not start now? This is cause for great joy! I get to be with Jesus forever!

Jesus came not only to offer great joy, but great freedom as well! He came to set the captives free! But what type of captive would be set free to remain in his cell, refusing to come out? Would not the captive run out of his cell, telling everyone he met of the mercy he had received? Why then am I so content to sit in my cell? Why am I not running from the sin that enslaved me, not out of fear, but out of the great joy of the alternative that is set before me: intimacy with Christ!

Lastly, but perhaps most close to my heart, is the angel telling the shepherds that this good news is for all people. Oh, it is good news for you and me, but it’s also good news for our neighbors, our siblings, our classmates, our parents. What has silenced us?

Father, I pray for boldness and belief. May I truly believe that the news of Jesus’ birth is good, that it brings great joy to my daily life, and it is not just for me, but for all people. And may I have the boldness to share this news, this holiday season!