GLORIFYING AND PRAISING GOD FOR ALL THE THINGS
By Pastor Mitch
December 21, 2018
Many of us are excited about what it means to celebrate Christmas with deeper meaning and joy. What is the spirit of Christmas? For the Shepherds, it was a spirit of joy. The shepherds in the Christmas story found a special sense of joy in the Lord Jesus.
- The promise of great joy
“For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” Luke 2:10
The shepherds received the promise of great joy from the angel. This joy was meant for everyone, including lowly shepherds. Not only were they poor, they also had to face the harsh conditions of the Judean wilderness. It was very cold at night and very hot during the day. They had to protect their sheep from lions and bears. It was a very tough life. And yet in the midst of their hardness of life, they had the privilege of hearing this message of joy. This was the message of the birth of the Lord Jesus and the sign of a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manager.
- The personal discovery of this promise of great joy
“Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass.” Luke 2:15
The shepherds decided to check things out. Pastor Charles was explaining that the shepherds were not that sure at this point of time concerning what the angel had said. But nevertheless, they still went and checked things out for themselves. And the shepherds indeed saw a Babe lying in a manger. What the angel said about the sign was true. The word of the Lord was confirmed in their hearts.
- The personal response of great joy to God
“Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” Luke 2:20
There came a special sense of great joy in the heart of the shepherds. They could not contain their joy. Even though they returned to their tough life as shepherds, there was a big difference now. The Lord Jesus was in their hearts and they had faith in Him. They went back, giving all glory to God and praising Him for all that they had heard and seen. “Glorifying” and “praising” in Greek are in the present tense. These were things that they continued to do. Let’s also seek to glorify and praise the Lord for all that He had done for us this year, at Christmas and beyond. Let’s lift up His name with great joy always.
