Tag: good tidings
Good Tidings of Great Joy!
Scripture reading for December 25th: Luke 2:8-14
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”” (Luke 2:8-14)
To the humble shepherds, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant and blinding glory. They were tending their flocks, protecting them from the predators of the night and the sight was terrifying! The angel reassured them with one of the 365 “fear not’s” of the Scriptures. His message was “good news of great joy” for all people of the earth, Jew and Gentile! (Luke 2:29-32) This “Good News” was that a Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born in the town of David–Bethlehem! This fulfilled what was spoken by Micah the prophet! (Micah 5:2) These shepherds were told they would find this child wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
A great company of heavenly hosts (angelic beings) appeared with the angel of the Lord to these shepherds. They were praising God and giving glory to God in the highest heaven and proclaiming peace on earth to all men who would believe and receive the “Good News”! Today is still a time of God’s favor and His peace is available to all who will repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as Lord! This Good News is for you and all men today!
Redeemed Without Money!
Scripture reading for August 2nd: Isaiah 52-57
Americans are used to paying for about everything! Money makes the world go around and enables us to purchase what we need. We work many hours a week and some work several jobs in order to buy the things they need and want. We are a consumer-driven culture that loves to buy.
However, one of our greatest needs cannot be purchased with money. There is simply not enough money to buy it because it is so costly. Even the richest man in the world does not have enough resources to purchase this most pressing need. “No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him–the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough that he should live on forever and not see decay.” (Psalms 49:7-9)
Israel was sold into slavery for nothing. Her sins took her captive and she was taken away. God used Isaiah the prophet to call Israel to freedom and hope. “For this is what the Lord says: you were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.” (Isaiah 52:3)
Although no money would be involved, the price of redemption would be high. God would send His “Servant” who would act wisely and be raised up and highly exalted. (Isaiah 52:13-15) His servant would be marred and disfigured, beyond that of any man. He would not be attractive, but would be despised and rejected by men. He would be a man of sorrows and understand much suffering. This “Servant” would take up our sorrows and bear our infirmities. He would be smitten by God and afflicted, pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our sins and evil. (Isaiah 53:1-7) His punishment would bring us peace and His wounds would heal us! What a redemption by this Servant-Redeemer who was willing to suffer and die to pay a price for us!
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Jesus Christ is this willing “Servant” who came to redeem us without money! The ransom was costly–His own life blood and body offered in our place! Isaiah correctly spoke of future things that God alone could know and would fulfill! If you need redemption, today is a good day to “buy” it–by faith in Jesus Christ!