Optimist Roundtable
By Martha Sykes
But the angel said to them, “ Do not be afraid. I bring you good news great joy that will be for all people”. Those familiar words are from the second chapter of Luke.
There are many reasons for us to be afraid in our world today, and there are so many things that are out there just waiting to steal our joy. In the Scriptures, it tells us to think of good things, so I’d like to mention, some good reasons for Christmas joy this year.
One of the reasons for us to experience is good news of great joy is because the Messiah has come at all. Jesus didn’t have to come to earth, but God wanted to bring “Joy to the world” as the song goes. And this is good news for us today, because behind that is the true message of Christmas; and that message is that we all really matter to God!! you matter to God so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to let you know it.
By His example, we are reminded of what it means to give and we need to be like Him.
Each person around the world is special to Him! No matter what race, income, or religion, each one of us matters, so they need to matter to us, too.
The other good news of great joy is that the Messiah came to save. It also tells us in Luke, that, “Today in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.” Jesus, was born into the world on that first Christmas as our savior, and for us to be saved, we must let Jesus be born into our lives. Not just in one part of our lives, but in every area of our lives that we live. Maybe there’s a part of us that we hold back from Him. We need to have Him everywhere; in our families, our marriages, our churches, in our communities, end in our own thoughts and actions. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary, and burdened, and I will give you rest”.
Amy Grant has a popular song out that says, “ Lay down your burdens, I will carry you, I will carry you, my child”. Let’s turn our burdens over to Him so that we can let Jesus being born in our lives today and experience that real feeling of Christmas.
So the good news of Christmas is that it’s for everyone. God wants us all to unite and have good relationships with other people. We know there are many broken relationships in our world today because people build walls instead of bridges, and they refuse to forgive one another and enjoy life. It would be great if those who have these barriers between them would reconcile this Christmas and give a gift of joy to each other.
May you all feel the presence of the joy in your hearts that Jesus brings to all this Christmas season!!
