So it is Christmas season once again. What will you be found doing? There were some shepherds in that part of the country
who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks Lk
2:8(ISV). Some use the holiday season
to annex an extra day or two and avoid work. Offices notoriously are sparse
(some abandoned) in this period. Taking care of what is entrusted into your
hands even in the inconvenience of a cold night is praiseworthy. The angel of
the Lord was sent to this group; not to those derelicts of duty, avoiding tasks
they are paid to do. An angel of the
Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them Lk
2:9(ISV). It is not only them that were met while on
scheduled duty. The angel of the Lord also went to Zechariah’s duty post to give
him God’s message. An angel of the
Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar Lk
1:11(ISV); a
duty post that had seen no angelic appearance since the setting up of the
temple. Emulate this group in this season. Be not
among those who default; it doesn’t matter that (as far as you know) nothing
special has ever happened to those who did their duty, and no hurt to those who
did not. There is more for those who have heard the Lord.
Some choose this season for all kinds of revelry. Indulging in
overeating and drinking, participating in lustful and sensual meetings;
defiling the flesh and spirit. Saturnalia in short. It is so pervasive some
give it as an excuse not to mark the birth of Jesus. You who have heard the
message in this season purpose to get into the Lord’s presence. When the angels went away from them back into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph
and saw the baby lying in the manger Lk 2:15, 16(ISV). Encourage one another to go into the homes, conferences, fellowships
and meetings the Lord is to be found. He is away from the rest. Come alone in
the quiet place by yourself and worship the Lord. Be transformed from hearers
to those who experience the Lord in this season. This transformation resulted
in their becoming witnesses, the first human evangelists of the incarnation.
How did they evangelise? When they saw
this, they repeated what they had been told about this child. All who heard it were amazed at what the
shepherds told them Lk 2:17, 18(ISV). Simply repeating
the message they heard. Evangelism made easy: repeat the message you heard
having experienced it. You don’t believe Jesus was born on December 25 so you
won’t celebrate? I doubt He was born on that date too but I will be in church.
Do not be overcome by evil of saturnalia, but overcome evil with good.
Indifference does not defeat evil: good does.
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