In this moment and time, what the world needs is to
remember the voice of the angel! “I bring
you good tidings of Great Joy!” Tidings, that is news of great truth! Is
there joy in the heart of the Lord’s saints today? Joy is so much more than happiness;
it is everlasting and depends upon the strength of our belief in the Lord Jesus
Christ. When the Angel pronounced Jesus’ birth, a multitude of heavenly host
became visible to mankind as they praised Him! And what was Heaven’s response?
Praising God and declaring: “On earth
Peace, good will to all people!” It
was Joyous News to the shepherds out in the field watching their sheep by
night. O saints, know the Good Shepherd watches you all through the night? It
is His good pleasure to care for His flock! I hear the Psalmist in Psalm 100 “Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He
that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of
His pasture.” And the scripture goes on to reveal His desire concerning us:
Vs4 ~ “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. Vs5
~ “For the Lord is good; His mercy is ever-lasting;
and His Truth endureth to all generations.” It is Jesus’ desire to commune
with us, even in the night seasons of our life, and to reveal His expectation
for us. His greatest desire is that we be ready for His Coming! He is coming
again even as He came as the Child born and placed in the manager … the feeding
place of the cattle. He is the one who desires to nourish us spiritually by His
Word as He prepares us for eternal life. He will come in Rapture for His
saints; He will come in death for His saints; He is coming! The prophets have
forewarned us, this will happen. He will be born in Bethlehem! Micah 5: “Thou, Bethlehem, though thou be little
among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that
is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
O the tidings of Great Joy that have been given to the believer who Loves the Lord
with all their heart! The gifts He has given outnumber our thoughts! Love, grace,
mercy, forgiveness, healing, joy unspeakable, peace, kindness, on and on go the
precious gifts of our Saviour. The Angel promised it, Jesus has fulfilled it!
And if we truly love Him with a full heart, tidings of great joy will fill our
heart, our soul, and our spirit! “… with
exceeding Joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be Glory and Majesty, Dominion
and Power, both now and ever. Amen. Your Pastor
