Written by: Dave Barker - What4

Luke 1 v 71-75
He promised he would save us from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us.
He said he would give mercy to our fathers and that he would remember his holy promise.
God promised Abraham, our father, that he would save us from the power of our enemies so we could serve him without fear, being holy and good before God as long as we live.

Notes
Down from the beginning of Creation, there is a God that screams to the human race “I’m concerned about you, and I want to give you a promise. A promise that I, The God of Creation, can keep!”

How many promises have you messed up or not kept, or how many people have made a promise to you which has not worked out. Well, that’s not what God is like! When God says something and makes a promise, he does exactly what he has promised, and these few verses announce that God was coming to save, to show his mercy and to give us a new hope and a way of living that would please him.

When someone has kept a promise to you, you put your trust in them, and you have a confidence in them until that person lets you down, and then you may have to re-think your trust in them sometimes. But the human race is full of people who mess-up, because we are humans! But when God makes a promise, he keeps it, and he is faithful!

These verses are a song, Zechariah’s song, and the Old Testament talks of God arriving on earth to walk with humans and to identify with them. He says he was coming to save the human race, - and that’s just what he has done! This song also brings the announcement of Jesus, - God in the skin! Coming to earth to change human history and destiny. Go on, be on a quest for God!

Luke 1 v 76-80
“Now you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
You will make his people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven.
With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us.
It will shine on those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death.
It will guide us into the path of peace.”
And so the child grew up and became strong in spirit. John lived in the desert until the time when he came out to preach to Israel.

Notes
These verses are talking about the birth of John the Baptist, and John had a special job to do, he was born to announce God’s arrival on earth. What an honour! But do you know that this honour is still with Christians today. If only we would announce that Jesus Christ has come! His kingdom has come! And more of his kingdom will come again. You see we only know a little bit, because our God is so massive, - he is a big God! He wants us to honour him by telling others (just as John did) that God has made a way for us to have a relationship with him once again. But first there comes the time of preparation, and so often we want to be able to skip this time of preparation sometimes, we want to get right to the event, - John himself had an interesting time of preparation, - Desert, insects (he had to eat those!), wear sackcloth! In fact, his preparation was a bit of a tough one, - but he did it! Preparation is important. Preparation takes time! But finally, the time came when he had to go and tell of this great news, this great arrival on earth, - God in the skin, - Jesus Christ! You see God appoints (calls us through destiny) and gives us his Spirit to equip us (preparation), and then comes the right time to go and tell! Who are you telling this good news to, this Christmas?

Luke 2 v 1-3
At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register. This was the first registration; it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to their own towns to be registered.

Notes
Did you know (if you didn’t know already!) that it is the last day for you to shop and get ready with your preparations for the great event tomorrow, - Christmas day! The day when Christians remember God arriving on Planet Earth! Was it a huge fanfare? – Well, the announcement of his arrival was, but we see that God arrives in a humble state. Basically, Jesus, God’s son, was a street kid! He was born just outside a hostel, – in a building to house the animals, which we now call a stable. It makes you think, doesn’t it? – God of the universe, comes down to earth, and is born a street kid! 

These verses talk about the registering business, but this is all part of God’s plan, and yes, he can use kings and queens that have hard hearts towards him. Now, that makes you think too! That God chooses to use Christians and non-Christians to fulfil his purposes. People were getting ready for an event that they did not know much about, but God was at work, preparing the way, so the registering process had to happen. I am sure that this was a big chore for a number of people who had to move to their birth-place. Think about it! People signing up for a God event! Because basically, that’s what it was! Have you signed up for a God event in your own life?

Luke 2 v 4-7
So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was now pregnant. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a box where animals are fed.

Notes
Did you know that you are part of a massive family, - even though your own actual family, sharing this great event, might be quite small. You have a family line that goes back a long way, and so did Jesus! We can trace his family right through the Old Testament, leading right up to the time of his birth. Here we see in these verses, Mary being pregnant, (and by the way, this was not a very helpful state for her to be in, especially during that time and culture, more so because she was not married! I am not too sure if that’s cool in any culture, actually!) But both Joseph and Mary came to know that it was God’s plan, and so that made it fine, they could cope with that, even though it was very hard especially when people were gossiping about them, I am sure! You see when God calls us to do something, he doesn’t always promise it is going to be easy, and Mary and Joseph certainly found that out! But they were obedient and that’s all that God asks! Because God says “I will always be with you!” Even though you may find it hard. Fancy being a part of God’s plan, and did you know you’re a part of God’s plan as well? As I said yesterday, Jesus was born a street kid, so God chooses to come in a humble way without ‘pomp’ and ceremony. 

On this great day, full of eating, drinking, and having a good time, even though half of the world will probably not be! Are you going to give a bit of time to think about this humble Jesus that came for you and for me and for the human race. Give him a thought today!

Luke 2 v 8-12
That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people. Today your Saviour was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.”

Notes
Well, Christmas Day is over and Boxing Day is here, and I trust that you are still thinking about God, because God hasn’t stopped thinking about you! 

Has there been anything that has really freaked you, - freaked you big time?! Something you may have seen or heard? Well, what about these verses that we read in Luke 2. The scene, a bunch of Shepherds looking after their sheep, when an angel comes and communicates, “Go and see what God has done in Bethlehem!” But it was not only just one, there was a whole crowd of them and they were having a major heaven concert in the sky! I bet those shepherds were well freaked! But I tell you what, it was a good kind of shock, because God had communicated to these shepherds to go and see the good thing that had happened in Bethlehem, that would bring them great joy! God has not changed, he has kept his promise, and this message, that Jesus has come to earth is good news still and great joy to all those that trust him!

Luke 2 v 13-17
Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying:
“Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.”
When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.”
So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding box. When they had seen him, they told what the angels had said about this child. 

Notes
What more angels!! I wonder how freaked the shepherds felt now! I bet their mouths had dropped to the floor! 

As you read these verses and have a look at my ‘chatty’ bits, I will be on my way to Holland to join around 8,000 European young people to worship and to celebrate this good news of God coming to earth! You see, Jesus is still relevant today, and every day thousands of people decide to trust and to follow him. Now that’s a thought, isn’t it! Even though the birth of Jesus happened some 2000 years ago, it is still a great event because that great event is still changing thousands of people’s lives every day. It all started through the thinking and the actions of these shepherds to go on a quest to find God. Are you? Well, I found God, or was it God who found me?! Positive change happens when you invite God into your life. 

Luke 2 v 18-21
Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them. Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It had been just as the angel had told them.
When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised and was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before the baby began to grow inside Mary.

Notes
When God shows up, and impacts your life, people are amazed at the change. Just as it was with the shepherds, every one was amazed at what the shepherds said to them. When I met God, change began to happen, particularly when I allowed God to have his place in my life. 

And what happened to those shepherds after they saw Jesus in the stable, they went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. When you meet God you want to thank him and you want to share it with others. Jesus wants to come and make his home in our hearts.

Remember, when God speaks, he acts, and keeps his promises! God has a plan, just like the plan he had for the shepherds and for Mary and Joseph, and he also has one for you. Just read Psalm 139, and you will see just how much God is on your case, because he loves you.

Have a Happy New, God in your life, Year! 


word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes