Those who follow my facebook page already got to read the following message – but as is the case when one’s heart is overflowing with good news, ya can’t help but share it at every opportunity, again and again. So then, here again is the news my family is overjoyed to share as it was posted on my page:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given..." Isaiah 9:6
This Christmas promise of the arrival of the Son of God has been a point of special reflection for Stacy and me this Christmas for an exciting reason.
This year, two days before Christmas, we are scheduled to appear in court where we will adopt into our family our youngest child. We are privileged that for the last year we've already gotten to know and love him as we've cared for him - always hopeful that this day might arrive.
So then, this Christmas, even as our family celebrates that by God's grace He sent into the world a child to redeem the world - we will also celebrate the special child He sent into our world. So once again I quote the prophet Isaiah, "For unto us a son is given!"
What a special Christmas this year will be. It makes me think of the Shepherds on that first Christmas morning. Through scripture, they too were given good news. Only theirs came by way of an angelic proclamation rather than a lawyer’s e-mail, and theirs wasn’t just Good News for one family, but for all the world through all time:
10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ~Luke 2:10-11
Read again that passage above. Who was it that was born on Christmas day? For whom was this “Good News”?
Do you believe this to be true? And I don’t mean in a shallow – “yeah, sure, I guess it’s true” sort of way, but an awestruck and weak kneed and teary eyed recognition that “Jesus has come to save us, each of us, from the hellish fruits of our own sinful and broken lives that we might have a redeemed relationship with the living God, creator of all, sustainer of the universe, lover of my soul!”
Because if you believe this to be true, if this Good News is in your heart and soul, then with whom are you sharing it? Jesus tells us that out of the overflow of our hearts, our mouths speak. Is this Good News overflowing your heart? If so, please join me in shouting out that others may know – “For unto us is born this day in the city of David a Savior…”
Blessings, Pastor Tim
17 After seeing (Jesus), the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished... 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
~Luke 2:17-18 & 20