A Celestial Announcement

25 Dec

Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

I’m a sucker for surprise parties. I know. Most people act surprised because they had been tipped off earlier. However, there is still an electric sense in the air when someone steps into a room, turns on the lights, and is met with a huge SURPRISE and the whole gang sings Happy Birthday, or He’s a Jolly Good Fellow, or whatever song the occasion demands.

The whole earth was a part of a surprise party. Can you imagine the shepherds in the fields at night when all of a sudden the skies light with a celestial radiance and a chorus of angels shouted “Surprise?!” Well, okay, maybe they didn’t shout surprise; but, I’m sure that the shepherds were quite surprised nonetheless. Shocked or stunned might be more the word that just surprised.

The angels announced a joyful message: the long-awaited Savior was born! That happy message has resounded throughout the earth for over two thousand years already and it still hasn’t gotten old. There is still a joy in singing our Christmas songs because we are singing the birthday songs of Jesus Christ.

The long-awaited day has arrived. At your Christmas celebrations today enjoy the time you spend with family and friends; but, at the same time, remember the real reason for today. We celebrate the birth of a God who loved us so much that He became one of us.

Love, the Lord, is here!

FAITH ACTION: Find ways to ring out your joy in the Lord’s birth this day.