As we take part in all the celebrations this Christmas season, we celebrate the good news of great joy delivered to the shepherds but also intended for us. We celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus.
The Scriptures tell us that an angel appeared to the shepherds saying, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11).
These words, spoken to them, would prove both life-giving and life-changing. After going and seeing for themselves, “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:20).
The next few weeks will be full of things to do and places to go. Christmas will come and go in the blink of an eye. Let’s pray that in the midst of it all, we not only prepare room for all that Christmas brings but for the One whom Christmas is all about.
Here are three practical ways we can do so:
- Remember, Jesus came to us.
The fact that King Jesus came to us, lived a life we could not live and died the death we deserve on the cross changes the trajectory of our life today and forever.
- Rejoice in Jesus.
Rejoice means to express joy or gladness. Often it’s easy to let our circumstances determine our joy rather than the One who provides our joy. This Christmas, we can rejoice daily in knowing who Jesus is and that He is still with us. He is our Savior, our Comforter, our Provider and our Friend.
- Reflect on what’s to come.
Jesus came as a baby, but He grew up, lived a perfect life, died on the cross and rose from the dead. Through Him, He made forgiveness, salvation and eternal life possible. He said, “If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3). Jesus gives us hope not only for today but for all eternity.
As we celebrate this Christmas season and spend so much time pointing others to Jesus, we can make it a point to prepare room in our hearts to encounter Jesus and experience once again the good news of great joy that is for all of us.
Published December 12, 2022