The angels announced to the shepherds on Christmas Eve, that in the town of David a Savior has been born who is Christ the Lord. The angels’ Hallelujah announcement to the shepherds is good news of great joy which should change every aspect of our lives, so that we can never be the same. This announcement should transform our lives, our past, our present and our future from humbug to Hallelujah.
The hallelujah life is a life that is lived moment by moment believing that our sins are forgiven. Jesus whose birth the angels announced to the shepherds is our savior! Jesus would demonstrate his own love for us by dying for us while we were still sinners (Rom 5:8). God would make, Jesus, who was announced by the angels, who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21). In this act God removed the barrier which separates us from Him, and reconciled us to Himself. The hallelujah life is a life lived by faith, that through grace, Jesus, the Son of God, who was born in Bethlehem has redeemed our past.
Some of you may find yourself today living in the past. You may find yourself reliving the bad and terrible things that have happened in your past – divorce, death, alcohol, poverty, abuse, or bad choices. You may find yourself wishing things were different, wishing for different childhood experiences; regretting things you have said or done; or wishing you had said or done certain things. You may feel the pain and hurt of what others have done to you. You may find yourself living with guilt, remorse or resentment. Living this way robs you of the joy and peace that the angels proclaimed. Others of you may find yourself denying or suppressing the hurts of your past through substances, activity or people. You may have become so good at suppressing the past, that you no longer enjoy the present. In fact you may be so busy or so wrapped up that you cannot even hear the good news that God is proclaiming to you.
I invite you to hear again the message of the angel – “I bring you good news of great joy – today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you”. I invite you to hear and accept this gracious gift of a Savior from heaven above. Come and confess your regrets, your sins and remorse for your past, and accept the gracious gift of forgiveness that our Savior offers. “For if we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Yes, everything that has happened in your past is forgiven. The things you should have said and done, but didn’t or the things you shouldn’t have said and done but did are forgiven. Hallelujah! You are forgiven!
The angelic messengers proclaimed good news not only to the shepherds but to you and me as well. Our savior has been born. Hallelujah! By grace through faith there no longer is room for self-pity, regret, guilt, remorse or resentment. You no longer need to live a humbug life! Jesus fills us with joy and peace! You are able to live a hallelujah life! Why? Because as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed your transgressions from you! (Ps 103:12)
This Christmas will you continue to live in the past? Or will you hear and believe the good news? Will you allow the saving power of God to redeem your past and fill you with joy and peace?
No comments:
Post a Comment