“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.” 

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people (emphasis added). “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.”

 

Christmas is all about giving. God so loved the world He GAVE His Son. He gave us many things but three stand out to me because of Jesus’ birth: -

 

a) A way back to the Father – in sending Jesus we now have a path back to the Father - reconciliation – until Jesus was born – sin had no Saviour.

 

b) Victory over the works of the enemy – as one writer puts it “until Jesus was born satan’s intentions were unbridled.”  It could be said satan felt he had the victory right up until the night before Jesus’ birth. History records however he had no victory at all, for at the Cross Jesus had the ultimate victory even over death! If Jesus hadn’t come to the world, died and gone back the Father, the precious Holy Spirit could not have been given to us.

 

c) He gave us grace – the one who came from the Father John 1:1 tells us is full of grace and truth. What is grace? God’s unmerited favour and His enabling power. So undeserved but so powerful and needed every day.

 

V9 “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

 

3 key phrases in this angelic pronouncement.

 

1. Good News – the good news is of course we are no longer bound in sin – we have direct access to the Father and the immediate and ongoing forgiveness of our sins. That great hymn puts it this way "Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night – Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke the dungeon flamed in light, my chains fell off my heart was free I rose, went forth and followed thee." That’s good news no matter how you look at it. Freedom in Christ – the little baby born in a manger brought freedom to you and me. 

2.  Great Joy - being in relationship with God is meant to be a joyful experience. A personal relationship with the creator God through His Son Jesus brings great joy to us. “Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we should be called the sons of God.” (1 John 3:1). It gives me great joy to be called a son of God and a joint heir with Christ.

3.  For ALL people – to Jews and Greeks, slave and free, one and all! ‘All’ in the Greek means all. There are no exclusions by race, gender, family heritage, upbringing, education, the sort of life we’ve had, what we’ve done or not done, what side of the tracks we’re born on – the good news is for ALL people. 

What then can we give to God this Christmas?

 

I believe He simply desires a life devoted to Him and His kingdom here. The good news of great joy was for all people. How do all people hear about this good news if you and I don’t tell others about the goodness of God.

 

Let’s bring our gift of humility and devotion to Him afresh today. “God, would you use me for the advancement of your kingdom?”

 

God holds out the gift of grace to us. There are moments when His gift of grace makes perfect sense.  A cheque in the mail when you have a pile of bills. A phone call when you're lonely. God's peace when you're troubled. We understand that expression of God’s Grace!

 

There are other moments when His gift of Grace seems a little strange. Forgiveness when you still feel guilty. A kind word from a friend when you've been unkind. A hug from a child when you've lost your temper.

 

Our job is to freely receive the gift of grace from the Giver. It takes open eyes and an open heart to receive the grace God sends to us through our friends and families. But when we receive, then the gift does its wonderful work. Once the gift has changed us then we can freely share the gift with others.

 

Let’s give the gift of love to someone this Christmas and if necessary, let’s give the gift of forgiveness to someone, if not personally, then let’s offer up the offence to God and allow Him to bring peace, healing and comfort to us.

 

Finally let’s give God the gift of our lives this Christmas. He gave us His only Son. What is your response to His gift of life and freedom today?

 

May you have a blessed and peaceful Christmas!