Tidings of Great Joy

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said the them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.

-Luke 2:10 &11

He is Christ the Lord.... in the most humble of circumstances: a manger. And somehow this was made to be most fitting for the King of all kings and the author of our salvation given through the shedding of his own blood. All for love's sake and glory He became poor.

How amazing, how glorious it is that Christ, Who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant and being made in human likeness. Being found in the appearance as a man he humbled himself and because obedient to death even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I have so much to celebrate this Christmas, O Lord:
Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. you make the heavens even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything and the multitudes of heaven worship You!

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

-Luke 2:13 &14

Just as an indescribable sunset or a breathtaking mountaintop vista evokes a spontaneous response, so I cannot encounter the worthiness of God this Christmas Eve without the response of worship.”

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

-Luke 2:20

I suppose that we should continue to be like the shepherds that night and continually glorify and praise God for all the He is doing in our lives and even for the suffering that we face because we bear His Name. For Christians it is our honor and it's worth it!

Our goal is nothing less than the completion of the great commission so that the Lord Jesus Christ will return for his bride to bring all human history to moment in Scripture where voices are heard in heaven proclaiming 'The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He will reign forever and ever. That is our goal and purpose and we are willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill that goal and vision and be obedient to that calling.

-the persecuted Asian believers the the last year.

Are we willing to do whatever it takes, even if we have
to pick up our "cross" (Luke 9:23) and suffer for Christ's sake?

Merry Christmas!!!!