Luke 2:10 (ESV)
And the angel said to them, “Fear
not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the
people.
A short little verse in the angel’s
message to the shepherds. A message that sometimes gets missed in the details
of the story. “Good news of great joy . . . for all people.” Later in the
chapter, verse 32, Simeon prophecies that Jesus is “a light for revelation to
the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” This is good news for all
people.
Our world is divided nation
against nation. But even within nations one group opposes the other. Human trafficking,
war, and genocide occur daily. It is easy for Christians to get caught up in
this. Those people at the border need Jesus. He came for them. Those aggressive
nations attacking, destroying, and taking what is not theirs need Jesus. He
came for them. Those guerilla soldiers who are going from house to house and
hut to hut raping, maiming, and destroying need Jesus. He came for them. And that
annoying neighbor needs Jesus. He came for her.
What do we do with that? How are
we supposed to react and respond? That’s not an easy answer. What we must not do
is get caught up in the violence, bitterness, and anger of the world. Jesus
came for them. We must never forget that. The gospel crosses all borders and
boundaries. So as Jesus said in Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you.” He goes on to argue that God gives good things even
to bad people. “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends
rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45). As his children can we do less?
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