But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
-Luke 2:10-11
They’re some of the most familiar words of scripture. We read these words every year during this season, every year on Christmas Eve, every year as we seek to celebrate the joyful news of Jesus’ birth. As Christians, these words capture our Christmas joy.
Yet there are two little words that often get overlooked in this scripture passage, two little words that I think make all the difference in this passage. “To you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior.” The birth of the child of Bethlehem’s manger is not an abstract concept. It is not some historical tidbit that is only mildly connected to our lives. Jesus was born, not just for people generally, but for all of us personally, for you personally. “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.” Jesus was born for you! God came down for you! The Lord of all heaven and earth moved heaven and earth for you! For you!
Some five hundred years ago, Protestant reformer Martin Luther wrote: “Of what benefit would it be to me if Christ had been born a thousand times, and it would daily be sung into my ears in a most lovely manner, if I were never to hear that he was born for me and was to be my very own?” Here, Luther is saying that the good news of Christmas is only truly good news when we realize that it is good news for us, when we realize that Jesus was born for us, when we realize that Christmas is for us, personally.
This Christmas — a Christmas perhaps more distanced and disconnected than most — may you reconnect with this old, old story. May you take joy in the angels’ news: that Christ was born in the manger of Bethlehem for you — yes, for you!
Connect with that joy, friends, and remember:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
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- View previous devotionals: https://wesleychurch.com/pastor-candys-devotionals-2/
