Weekly Newsletter
Pastor David’s Weekly Devotional
“Near the end of the Second World War, behind the enemy lines in Nazi Germany, there were prison camps, where American soldiers were kept. And in this one camp, they were not well fed and they were starving, thin, discouraged – wondering if they would ever go home again and see another Christmas. And the Nazi guards watched them behind the fences, with their downcast faces and their slumped over shoulders, scarcely speaking to each other.
But suddenly one morning, everything had changed it seemed. They were still behind the fences. They were still not well fed. They were still very sick. And the guards noticed that they were happy. They were smiling, they were talking, they were gathering in little huddles. Every now and then you could hear a hoot from somewhere. The guards had no idea what was going on.
A little transistor radio had been smuggled in, and the American POWs heard the news that the Allied forces had landed. They had triumphed. They were moving steadfastly inland, and it could be just days before their rescue, because liberation was happening.
The point of that little story is the power of news. Nothing had changed except news. News awakened hope” (John Piper; “Christmas Eve Meditation”, 2008).
This is what the angel did for the shepherds when he said, “I bring you good news of great joy” (Lk.2:10), and it is what we are called to do for those who have not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Matt.28:19-20; Mk.16:15). We are not called just to believe the Good News – the Gospel – of Jesus Christ but also called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This truth is wonderfully captured in an African American Christmas song written by John W. Work, Jr. as early as 1865. It’s titled, “Go Tell It On The Mountain”:
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #52):
Deuteronomy 32-34; Esther 6-10; Psalm 149-150; Song 7-8; Revelation 18-22; Acts 27-28; Jude
Recommended Reading:
“Jesus the Evangelist: Learning to Share the Gospel from the Book of John” by Richard D. Phillips
“Near the end of the Second World War, behind the enemy lines in Nazi Germany, there were prison camps, where American soldiers were kept. And in this one camp, they were not well fed and they were starving, thin, discouraged – wondering if they would ever go home again and see another Christmas. And the Nazi guards watched them behind the fences, with their downcast faces and their slumped over shoulders, scarcely speaking to each other.
But suddenly one morning, everything had changed it seemed. They were still behind the fences. They were still not well fed. They were still very sick. And the guards noticed that they were happy. They were smiling, they were talking, they were gathering in little huddles. Every now and then you could hear a hoot from somewhere. The guards had no idea what was going on.
A little transistor radio had been smuggled in, and the American POWs heard the news that the Allied forces had landed. They had triumphed. They were moving steadfastly inland, and it could be just days before their rescue, because liberation was happening.
The point of that little story is the power of news. Nothing had changed except news. News awakened hope” (John Piper; “Christmas Eve Meditation”, 2008).
This is what the angel did for the shepherds when he said, “I bring you good news of great joy” (Lk.2:10), and it is what we are called to do for those who have not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Matt.28:19-20; Mk.16:15). We are not called just to believe the Good News – the Gospel – of Jesus Christ but also called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This truth is wonderfully captured in an African American Christmas song written by John W. Work, Jr. as early as 1865. It’s titled, “Go Tell It On The Mountain”:
Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev'rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching, O'er silent flocks by night;
Behold throughout the heavens, There shone a holy light.
Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev'rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.
The shepherds feared and trembled, When lo above the earth;
Rang out the angel chorus, That hailed the Savior's birth.
Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev'rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.
Down in a lowly manger, The humble Christ was born;
And God sent us salvation, That blessed Christmas morn.
Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev'rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #52):
Deuteronomy 32-34; Esther 6-10; Psalm 149-150; Song 7-8; Revelation 18-22; Acts 27-28; Jude
Recommended Reading:
“Jesus the Evangelist: Learning to Share the Gospel from the Book of John” by Richard D. Phillips
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