Advent Through the Alphabet
is for Good News.
And the angel said to [the shepherds], “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” – Luke 2:10-14
When an angel appears, you listen. Angels tended to show up in the bible for one of two reasons, to do battle with God’s enemies, or to deliver a message. So when the angels appeared to the shepherds I imagine they were concerned about which way this conversation might go.
The shepherds knew (like we do) that they were full of sin. Like us, they recognized that the way they lived their lives might seem to say that they were not on “team God.” The bible teaches us that our sinfulness, our love of sin, make us enemies of God. That is bad news.
But that is not the message that the angels delivered. Instead they proclaimed peace, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news.”
The good news was that God was getting rid of our sin. He was doing the work to get rid of that which made us His enemies. By sending the baby Jesus to earth, God brought peace, not war. Jesus’ life and death would be exactly what each of us needs to be on God’s team.
The good news is that, for some reason, God loves you and me and the whole world so much that He sent His only Son. That whoever believes in Him will be at peace with God and never die, but instead will live with Him forever.
PRAYER: Dear God. Thank you for the peace that only comes from Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.
ACTIVITY: Christmas cards are often used to share family news. They are also a great way to share the good news of Jesus! Find some paper and make a Christmas card or two to drop off at your neighbor’s house. Remember to share the good news that Jesus was born for them.