“Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” —Luke 2:10
Shepherding was low on the totem pole of desirable vocations. These men gutted out their hard labors each day with little payback to cheer them or to provide much hope for the future. The only thing for which they were truly qualified was needing some good news.
The truth is all people can fit that job description. Maybe one of those people at this particular time is you. As exhilarating as Christmas can sometimes feel, it can also land with a seasonally enhanced thud of pain, grief, and loneliness when you find yourself dealing with hard things.
But the birth of Jesus Christ is not good news just for some people. Nor is it good news only for those in pleasant, congenial circumstances. The song of the angel is good news that eclipses and overshadows whatever else is happening in your life right now. It’s what “all the people” need, for all the things that threaten to deprive us of joy.
Make it Personal
Count up as many examples of blessing as you can name from the good news of Jesus’ coming into the world.