Glory To God In The Highest! Luke 2:8-20 Series

And the second part of the message “and on Earth, peace, goodwill toward men” Or “to men on whom his favor rests”.

This, I believe, may be a summary of Jesus’ ethical teachings. Jesus said “do not think I have come to bring peace on the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Jesus ministry did, indeed, cause division, because you either align yourself with Him, or you don’t. Yet the ministry He called us to was “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:11-21). He calls us to a radical kind of interaction with others-that if one demands we go a mile, we go two. If one strikes us on one cheek we turn the other also, if we see someone sick or in prison, or hungry, we seek to meet them and comfort, heal, and feed. Jesus demanded that we love as God loved us, He sends the rain on the just and the unjust, He cares for those who do not even acknowledge Him. A world in which all people live according to these principles would be a world of a radical and restorative peace. We have yet to see such a world established here. Perhaps this season, as we approach the new year, we can dedicate ourselves, as much as it has to do with us, that we would live at peace with all people. Let this be the generation which obeys the proclamation of the angels at the birth of Jesus.

THE RESPONSE

The shepherds immediately left their sheep and went to see Jesus.

They Hurried to Jesus

In this city I’ve seen many changes over the years. One of those changes is that many more people these days seem to be in a hurry. Sometimes I wonder what they’re in such a hurry for. Almost every time I go out for a drive, at a stoplight some auto rickshaw or old, beaten moped will weave its way through the minute spaces between vehicles to maneuver itself in front of me. I know my vehicle will go much faster than theirs, so I am certain that their presence in front of me will slow me down. So I wonder, ‘what are they hurrying for?’ Whenever a lorry speeds past me at an intersection-running into oncoming traffic, breaking a handful of laws and endangering half a dozen lives in the process I think “what are they in such a hurry to see?”

I am certain of one thing. They are not in a hurry to see Jesus.

What motivates us to hurry? Is there anyone here who hurries to the altar, hurries to the prayer closet, hurries to the time of worship, hurries to sing and praise and glorify God? Those who hurry to see Jesus will see Him indeed.

I’ve spoken at a few places where the behind the podium, where only the speaker can see, the words are carved “sir, we would see Jesus”. These must be the words on our lips.

They Spread the Word

If there is anything I think each of us must include on our list of priorities for the year to come, it is to spread the word. To spread the word you don’t have to take a course on evangelism-you just have to learn how to tell the story of what God has done in your life.