12-25-20 Today in the Word

GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevailing sense of anxiety that came with it, television actor John Krasinski asked a simple question: “Why has there never been a news show dedicated entirely to good news?” He decided to host an online video show simply titled, SGN or Some Good News focusing on inspirational and positive news stories. To his surprise, the simple, informal show received 71 million views! People were hungry for good news. The shepherds in today’s reading were watching over sheep outside Bethlehem, perhaps tending to the flocks reserved for temple sacrifices. Little did they know that on that ordinary night God would choose them as the first people to receive the news of the Savior’s birth (v. 8). The message was straightforward (vv. 9–14): The Messiah had been born! This was good news of great joy for everyone! The messenger was a single angel, followed by “a great company of the heavenly host” (v. 13) who burst forth in praise to the Lord. Literally, this phrase is “a multitude of the armies of heaven,” signaling that the invasion of Satan’s territory had begun! After they recovered from their terror and awe in the presence of the glory of the Lord, the shepherds obediently went and found the child, lying in a manger (vv. 15–16). Then they did what we should all be doing—spread the word (vv. 17–18), praising God for all that had taken place (v. 20). Notice that while the good news is “for all the people,” that is, all nations, including Gentiles (v. 10), the peace announced by the angels is only for those “on whom his [God’s] favor rests” (v. 14). With whom is God pleased? With those who believe on the name of His Son. >> Merry Christmas to you and your family from all of us at Today in the Word. As you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, know that we are rejoicing in this special day with you. PRAY WITH US Merry Christmas! Our Savior is born! Father, we are overjoyed and humbled by the birth of Jesus. We believe in the name of your Son and we thank you for your undeserved favor and grace.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-17-23 Not in a Billion Years

Not In A Million Billion Years :: By Dave Hubley Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles (There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.) Several years ago, I had a conversation with a guy in a waiting room while getting an oil change (in the car, not me). I don’t recall exactly how the conversation originated or how it progressed, but I have never forgotten it. As I recall, it had something to do with evolution and an article that was contained in a “waiting room magazine” that was available there. He made the observation that God was “something that man had made up.” I can’t recall the exact reason he used to justify his opinion, but it had something to do with the usual reasons people give: Weak-willed people needing a crutch, and blah, blah, blah. I engaged him in a “witness,
Read more

9-16-23 Santa Staleness

Santa Staleness :: By Edwin Tan Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles My one and only trip to Israel had more than a profound effect on my present-day psyche. It might have been three decades ago, but there is more than a lingering aftertaste. It happened smack in the last fortnight of the year. Surprisingly absent were the familiar sights and sounds of the Christmas most people are accustomed to. Hardly any Christmas decorations in downtown Tel Aviv, if not any of the shopping thoroughfares across the Holy Land. Hanukah was a breath of fresh air – not anything resembling a Christmas carol most people grew up with did surface. The Christmas Eve service in a small Protestant church not far away from Jerusalem’s Old City was awesome; songs that truly celebrated the virgin birth of our Lord, which though seemingly unheard of, were a welcome inspiration to many a soul. There was even one sung in Arabic! So it began, my overt disdain for the secular Christmas t
Read more

9-15-23 Miracles 2

Miracles 2 :: By Jim Towers Published on: December 21, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles This story is a continuation of the exciting things God continues doing in my life. I was supposed to have died a while back, and sometimes I feel as though I may do so soon. But since I’m ready to meet my maker, I have no fear of death. In fact, my evangelistic zeal has only increased, especially as I see the fast approaching of the “Tribulation period” mentioned in the book of Revelation. Insofar as my acting career is concerned, I just finished filming a soliloquy featuring Melchior, one of the three Magi who followed the star to Christ lying in the manger, and am preparing to portray a Jewish Priest on stage. Like I said, God is working overtime in my life, and I will be appearing on stage singing Broadway show tunes sometime in March, so I have a lot of rehearsing to do. In the meantime, I will be signing Christmas carols acapella at a park here in Naples. Since it is a spontaneous th
Read more