Sharing Good News

Luke 2:16-18 – So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (NIV)

The shepherds returned and spread the news of what they had seen. Who wouldn't, after seeing angels? What would you and I have done under similar circumstances? Here was a very special Baby which the angels had said was "the One" that God was sending to earth. What a story to tell! If it had been I, I, too, would have shared such great news. You would have, too. No one could keep such an amazing event to themselves.

Sadly today, though, we often keep our faith to ourselves. After all, who really wants to know, we think, and does anything miraculous really happen to us? We need to walk close to the Lord each day so that we are aware of what He is doing. We should expect Him to intervene when we get lost and beseech Him for help. We should anticipate having good news to tell our friends, co-workers, neighbours, relatives, and people at church. So, what action in our daily lives is God-inspired?

I would like to share this with you: the Lord has done wonderful things in my life. The year 2011 will always remain special for me, for this was the winter the Lord brought Dorothy, my friend, and I safely home. We had been on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, and there, I got the Norwalk virus and was very sick. The day before we were set to fly home, I fainted at breakfast. I was very weak, obviously. But the next morning arrived, and we were up early to catch the flight from Rome to Vancouver Island, flying many hours around the clock until midnight — a long flight! It was simply amazing how it all came together, and I didn't even feel tired! Obviously, God's blessing and guidance was evident in the smoothness of the flight. Everywhere we went, others were there helping us. We never got confused or lost in strange terminals. The way ahead was obviously planned out by an unseen, yet effective hand. God was there with us!

When I look back over various situations in my life, I can recognize God's hand in my days by the smoothness of events, as everything worked out amazingly. Life's events were not planned just by me, but by a divine hand organizing and planning the next step before I even got to it. The life of faith in Christ is real! God really is here! Praise God!

God does give us this one thing to do: we are to tell others the wonderful news that Jesus is here now, today, in our lives, working out His good pleasure. Let's tell others how the Lord God has led us to this spot and time. There are angels around, smoothing out our way ahead. Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the many times when You smoothed out the way before us. We could have been hopelessly lost, but we found our way home safely. We were not alone, for Your hand was guiding us, keeping us safe, giving us the strength necessary for the way ahead. Lord, we thank You for walking through this life with us. You really did come to earth, and You are in our lives right now, as we open the door to You. We praise You, our God, forever. Amen.