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When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
--Luke 2:15-17
I don’t know about you, but it’s through the simple things in life that God speaks to me … in the beauty of a sunset, or the smile on a child’s face. It’s in those times that we can realize that heaven’s message is close by.
Just like those shepherds near Bethlehem so long ago, you and I can hear clearly from God in the midst of our ordinary lives. We’ll be going about our day when, all of a sudden, something ordinary reminds us of God’s love and grace. We just have to pay attention.
The Scripture tells us that God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And if He can use humble shepherds to take His truth to the world, then He can very easily use you and me to do the same.
Don’t ever think you’re not qualified to take God’s message of grace to others. God can use you in a powerful way to show His love to the world. Open yourself to being used for God’s purposes and watch as He uses you to further His kingdom!
The Mercy of Christmas
Saturday, December 14, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:76–79
Before Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she would give birth to the Messiah, he had told the aged priest Zacharias that he and his equally aged wife Elisabeth would have a son—John the Baptist. Because Zacharias would not believe the promise without a sign, he was rendered unable to speak until after John was born. When his tongue was loosed, Zacharias worshiped God in gratitude, and spoke of the role his son would play in introducing Jesus to the world.
Zacharias also highlighted the motivation behind the soon coming Messiah’s birth—the mercy of God. There is no salvation apart from mercy. It was once said that while grace is getting what we do not deserve, mercy is not getting what we do deserve. And what every person deserves is eternal separation from God in Hell because of our sin. God does not desire that outcome, but His perfect justice would not permit Him to overlook our sin.
That is where mercy came in. In the person of Jesus Christ, both completely God and also completely human, who lived a sinless life, the sacrifice that would satisfy God’s justice was found. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10). It is only because of God’s mercy that we have hope of salvation and eternity in Heaven. It is only because of God’s mercy that we have the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem to celebrate.
Today's Growth Principle:
God’s mercy never fails, and the birth of Jesus is a wonderful reminder of His love for us.
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