Saturday, December 16th
Day 20-Sharing the Good News!!
Luke 2:17-18, 20
When my wife found out she was pregnant with our first child, she and I were so excited! We simply couldn’t wait to tell our friends and family. After keeping the secret to ourselves for a short while, we shared this big news on Christmas day with the family all gathered around. There were shouts and tears and hugs all around as we all celebrated together this new life that would soon join our family. As the days passed, our parents told everyone they knew that a new grandbaby was on the way!
After the shepherds left Mary and Joseph there in the stable, Luke shares that these men began to share the news that the Messiah had been born there in Bethlehem and that they had seen Him with their own eyes. They recounted the amazing story of the visit of the angels and finding the baby time and time again.
It is possible that this news was met with some amazement and also some disbelief.
“Why would the angels tell the likes of you?”
“The Messiah born in a stable!! We doubt it!”
These shepherds were undaunted by any disbelief and returned to their flocks in the fields with hearts full of praise that they had been chosen to find and worship the Messiah the Lamb of God.
The season of Advent, and especially Christmas eve, is a time when most people are more open to hearing the stories about our faith and to attending Christmas worship services as our guest. Take some time today as we are just over a week away from Christmas to consider who in your life needs to hear the true Christmas story and who may be willing to come along to one of our Christmas services. Reach out and invite them to lunch or coffee today. Invite them to come and hear about a God who came to redeem us.
Prayer emphasis: Ask God today to give you the courage to share the hope you have found in the baby Jesus who died for your redemption and to invite others to come to worship this Christmas eve and Christmas day.
For Family Discussion…
Who in your life needs to hear the good news about the birth of Christ? Who can you invite to come to Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day worship? Stop and invite them right now.