behold, I (The angel of the Lord) bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to “all” people.
And, that wonderful proclamation was made to shepherds, “regular, everyday” people just like you and me…
7 And she (Mary) brought forth her firstborn son (Jesus), and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds (regular folks like you and me) abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night (just going about their business like you and I do).
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for (because), behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to “all” people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour (to save us from everything the devil had planned for us since the fall like your past, discouragement, disappointment, depression, hopelessness, emptiness, pride, hate, greed, lust, anger, fear, you name it), which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:7-11
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
1 Chronicles 16:10-11
Jesus, the Saviour, is for everyone. He can redeem anyone from the plans of the evil one. Jesus is not just for those who go to church, who appear to be religious, who wear long robes and seem kind of other-worldly or mysterious. No, He came to set the captives free – That’s you and me. We’re like the shepherds in the story above – we’re regular people just like they were.
And, we’re all captives. We became captives as a result of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. We’re all captive to sin (Romans 3:23), to seeking our own way, to living familiar, marginalized, compromised lives (having some of the world’s ways and some of God’s ways operating in our lives), to living apart from God’s ways. Jesus came to bring us all back into the close relationship with God Adam and Eve enjoyed and thrived in before the fall. Jesus came to deliver us from evil, from fear, stress, distrust, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, insecurity and all of the other “ashes.” He came to take our ashes and replace them with His beautiful, delivering love. He came to show us the power of His might.
To all who mourn in Israel (or anywhere else you happen to be), he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.
Isaiah 61:3
God bless,
Mark