Do Good

Happy Sunday!

"Nearby, in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light—the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified!

Messenger: Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority!"(Luke 2:8-11, Voice).

Luke 2 is a go-to scripture passage for the Christmas Holiday!  We love the story, and the details, and reading it in other translations is also so much fun.  Did you see this portion "news that will affect all people everywhere"?  Did you realize that the news of the birth of Jesus the Christ is still affecting believers and non-believers after thousands of years?  Sure, they may call the work party a Holiday Party, but its celebrated during the Christmas Season.  And yes, Santa gets top billing, but the real dude was a Christian bishop who used his wealth to help the less fortunate.  What about giving and sharing?  Aren't those acts of kindness part of what Jesus taught his followers?  Luke 6:35 says, "I’m telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God. Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and not thankful."(Easy-to-Read Version).

Since we are all affected, how are we demonstrating the effects?  The first scripture said he would be a liberator.  The Prophet Isaiah received this revelation as well. Isaiah 61:1-2 says, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;(KJV).  Listen to this scripture in the Easy-to-Read Version, "The Spirit of the Lord God is on me. The Lord has CHOSEN me to tell good news to the POOR and to comfort those who are SAD. He sent me to tell the CAPTIVES and prisoners that they have been set free. He sent me to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his KINDNESS, when our God will also punish evil people. He has sent me to comfort those who are sad;"  Don't miss this!  We are the "Chosen Generation" we have been anointed to do the same works.(1 Peter 2:9).

Let's have a positive affect on everyone we meet.
Merry Christmas!

Love and prayers, Cynthia