Do you need relief from life’s crushing load?
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14
Heavenly Father,
We cannot help but notice the stark contrasts
in the story of the first Christmas.
Into a dark and silent world,
you sent angels to speak hope.
Often when they came,
the first response was fear:
“And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were filled with fear” (Luke 2:9).
Your people lived in a world of strife.
The words of “It Came upon a Midnight Clear”
described life then and life now:
“And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow….”
And yet, in the midst of
sorrow
and suffering
and silence,
you sent these wild and fearsome angels
to announce the arrival of joy and peace:
“Fear not, for behold,
I bring you good news
of great joy
that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).
What was this good news?
A Savior is born!
He is the King
who will bring an end
to the bitter strife
among humankind (See Ephesians 2:14).
Wherever this season finds us,
may we listen for the good news:
For he has come and brought peace,
and we await the day
when he will come again,
and all hostility will cease.
In that day,
there will be no more cause for crying,
no more “crushing loads.”
We will sing in a choir
composed of people
from every nation, tribe, and tongue,
“Glory to God in the highest!”
Come now, Lord Jesus!
Amen.
Read Luke 2:8-14.
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