A Message of Hope

A Message of Hope

Luke 2.8-12

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The message of Christmas has always been a message of hope. It is a time when we recall how the world received a Savior come to ransom us from sin. The story here in Luke 2 of the shepherds receiving the news of Christ's entry from an angel reminds us of that hope.

You see, like the shepherds, the message of Christmas often comes to a surprise to us. We are met by God's presence through “the glory of the Lord [shining] around [us].” “Good news of great joy” fills us when we consider the story of Christmas. Why are we filled? It is because “in the town of David a Savior has been born to [us]” who is “Christ the Lord.” A Savior! The Savior! By Him men are ransomed from sin. It is not merely the fact that God came to earth, but that God ransomed us through His coming. Such an event demands celebration. That is why we celebrate Christmas—it is a message of hope!

How can we spread that hope to others? The most obvious way is sharing the good news of the gospel. People all around the world are suffering, longing for a Savior just as the shepherds and those living in Christ's day were. Nothing has changed, other than the fact that the redemption has occurred. Jesus has come down and paid for our sins. When others learn of this, they too can experience a message of hope.

We can also spread the message of hope in our giving. We always say “Christmas is about giving.” That is certainly a major aspect of Christmas. There are billions of needy people in this world: people without food, clothing, shelter, love, or,most importantly, a Savior. We need to donate whatever God calls us to donate to help them. Whether that is money, time, gifts, or prayer, we need to help bring the message of hope to the hopeless. To the sick and needy. To the poor and homeless. To the brokenhearted and alone. To those void of the Gospel. May we bring hope to a world devoid of hope.

I pray, beloved, that you will experience the message of hope this Christmas season. I pray that we can all do something to further this message. Let's help make a Christmas the world will see and take note, so that they may receive Christ. Amen.

With love in Christ,



Austin Aldrich