Share the News of Christmas

My friend wanted Christmas to be extraspecial that year. She decorated the house exquisitely—not forgetting one little nook or cranny. Everyone’s favorite dish was prepared. Presents were thoughtfully purchased, wrapped in matching paper, and carefully positioned under the tree. The anticipation built until finally Christmas arrived. Surely the day would be all that she had envisioned.

That night, after the lights were out and she was in bed reflecting over the day, a deep emptiness filled her heart as a tear trickled down her cheek. Despite all her efforts, despite all her plans, somehow she had missed Christmas. She prayerfully promised the Lord that, if He granted her another year of life, Christmas would be different next year. And it was!

Can you identify with my friend? In the hustle and bustle of the season, we don’t want to miss the Savior.

I imagine it was a routine, ordinary night when the angels visited the shepherds. Scholars maintain that these shepherds probably raised the perfect, spotless lambs used for the temple sacrifices. While they surely knew about God’s promise of a Messiah, they probably were not expecting His appearance that night. And yet, the God-man stepped out of glory into the world on this ordinary night to become the perfect, sinless Savior.

Can you imagine their fear, their excitement when an angel appeared to announce the Savior’s birth? And how thrilled the angel must have been to proclaim, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). No doubt they were awestruck when the heavenly host suddenly appeared, praising God, but they rushed toward Bethlehem to find this Savior of the world. Once they had found Him, they didn’t keep it to themselves but quickly spread the word telling all who would listen that they had found the Savior.

Will you follow the example of the shepherds this Christmas? Go seek Him. Go and share. What will you do to spread the news about the Savior? Will you share Him with your neighbor, your hairdresser, the salesclerk, your world? Jesus is the Savior of the world. Worship Him!

Dear Father, help me recognize those divine appointments for sharing the news about the Savior. Amen.