A LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.COM PUBLICATION
2015 Worship Guide
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about peace on earth, but the celebration is about
the birth of a King who brought peace - to earth,
to our hearts - to our very lives - for all eternity!
“It Should Bring Joy”
The
celebration
of Christmas has for many of us
become somewhat incidental to the
preparation
for Christmas. What with all the shopping,
concerts, plays, parties, family gatherings,
cooking, decorating, corresponding, and wrapping
- as well as, the normal routines of each day -
time and energy have been stretched to all human
limits. That which God had intended to be a
joyous and uplifting event, has become a season
of tiring and burdensome activity that most people
can’t wait to put behind them. Man’s attempts to
create joy often result in overwhelming anxiety
and emptiness. There is little time, and much
worse, little desire to celebrate. This cannot be
the way God intended for us to acknowledge the
anniversary of the birth of His Son and His gift to
mankind.
“I bring you good news of Great Joy...”
These
were the words of the angel to the shepherds on
that quiet night. This message was intended to
bring joy, and Joy it did bring. God had presented
the world with a wonderful gift. The long awaited,
promised, Savior. A Shepherd to guide His people
and a King who would represent them. All that the
people had needed, and prayed for, and waited for,
had finally come to them. For these people, peace,
light, hope, and life was now freely available for
all men. What good news that was! This gift of
love – God Himself, clothed as His only Son -
was right here with them - in the flesh. Immanuel.
Jesus. The very definition of great Joy! Thus, the
first Christmas celebration was about to begin!
