With Christmas fast approaching, it seems appropriate to talk about sharing the good news with family and friends at Christmas. Who knows? It may be more than you think, and not as hard. Let’s start with the good news of Christmas.
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so 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. Luke 2:9-11 (NASB)
The angel brought “good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” The good news of this season should produce great joy in all who hear it. So, what about those who do not want to hear the news, or are so very far from great joy for other reasons?
Here’s a thought: This year, let’s make sure we share the good news of this season with great joy. Stop worrying about offending someone, or appearing to be insensitive to another. Good medicine is not always received with gratitude, but that doesn’t make it any less good for those who are blessed by it. Honestly, I believe we will be pleasantly surprised by peoples’ responses. There is a great joy embedded in the good news of Christmas.
This begs the question, “What do we share?” Most of us lean on “Merry Christmas!” and leave it at that. We are suggesting something more: “There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The good news of Christmas is the appearance of our Savior, Messiah, and King. We should have no trouble sharing that good news with genuinely great joy.
And there’s more: He’s a good king; He said so Himself.
And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:17-21
The great joy of Christmas is the birth of a good King – a King who will heal the broken heart of your friend or loved one. He is the King who has come to open the eyes of the blind – spiritually and physically. This King, born on Christmas day, has promised to liberate those we love from the cruelty, deception, and discouragement of this world. What a joyful message!! How can we keep it bottled up?
One final word of encouragement: It’s not so much the words as the heart behind them. The gospel is good news; it is more than doctrine. Share the good news you have with those God brings into your path and your Christmas gatherings.
“God loves you.” is good news.
“God has a good work for you to walk in.” is good news.
“The Holy Spirit desires to transform you into the image of the glory of the Lord.” is good news.
“God has a way for you.” is good news.
There is not a pre-packaged good news to memorize, rehearse, and regurgitate. The good news for one encounter may be different than another. The good news is that particular thing God desires to say through you in that particular moment.
So, let’s meditate on the “good news of great joy which will be for all the people” until it truly becomes the great joy others hear in our sharing with them.
God bless you with overflowing joy this Christmas season and many opportunities to pour it out on others.
Have a strong day in the Lord,
Rob
#iamjustthepen