Luke 2:17-18 – When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (NIV)

Whenever I see a good movie, I like to share my delight with other people. I do it because I want them to enjoy a similar, satisfying experience. My wife Evelyn and I enjoy going to the movies on a regular basis, and it helps us to relate to one another. Some of our first dates, before we got married, consisted in going to the movies, so I guess we're still sustaining that mutual interest and bond that we share.

Faith is supposed to be like that, but because of keeping common courtesies and retaining social boundaries, we're not so inclined to share our faith with others. We'll readily tell people about a good book, a great movie, or a riveting new television series, but when it comes to relating about an "aha" moment in church last Sunday, we'll probably keep it to ourselves and reflect inwardly on it.

It's a shame that we do that, because all sorts of people in our world, which is such a broken place, need to hear about God's presence still being felt in today's church. They want to know that God still reaches into the hearts and minds of believers. They want to hear that in the midst of all the fear, anxiety, and confusion around us, God is still in control. When the shepherds went back to the hills after seeing the baby Jesus, they were singing, rejoicing, and exuberant about the good news that they had personally experienced. As they told their story to everyone they encountered, the people whom they met were amazed.

Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place, if we allowed ourselves to share our joy in the Lord?

Questions for personal reflection:

What makes me delighted to be a Christian? How can I share this with other people in my life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are God's gift to the world, and we are joyful because You are constantly with us. Help us to joyfully share the good news of forgiveness and salvation with others. Prevent us from keeping the blessings of the gospel to ourselves. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

John Stuart <traqair@aol.com>
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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