Rev. Stephen Hammond, Senior Pastor
Bethel Community Church
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” Luke 2:13-14.
Christmas is only a few days away. Decorations are up, carols are being played and sung, gifts are being bought, and parties are filling our calendars.
To some, the holidays are difficult because of loss, and others are filled with anxiety because finances are tight. The world has seemed to have lost the message of Christmas.
On the night that Jesus was born, angels appeared to shepherds in a field and proclaimed what the Son of God was bringing with His life on this earth. Glory to God, peace and goodwill toward people.
Jesus’ life was a shining example of this angelic proclamation. He consistently gave all of the glory to His Father in heaven. He even told His followers on several occasions that He was on earth to bring glory to God and do the will of His Father.
Everywhere that Jesus went, He brought peace to all who believed in Him, and He also showed favor to everyone who obeyed His teachings.
The same principles apply today. God is still worthy of all of the glory. When we glorify God with our praise and worship and lifestyle, we honor Him and acknowledge that He is the reason for our many blessings.
Like Jesus, our life’s mission should always be to bring peace and goodwill to people everywhere. Fear and anxiety seem to be the norm today. Our world needs more peace and goodwill.
This is why it is good for us to remember the reason for the Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. When we carry Him in our heart and His words on our lips, we spread His peace wherever we go. May your holiday season be filled with the words of the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
