Christmas Eve

December 24
Laurie Schubkegel

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  Luke 2:10-11

We have a message of spectacular rescue: the love of God has rescued us from the wrath of God. Christmas is about the Creator of the universe, coming himself, in the person of his Son, into the world that he made.

Hundreds of times in the Bible, God is either called Savior or speaks of saving his people. God’s act of grace in response to our sin is the heart of the good news. But it isn’t the end of the story. When Jesus appeared to his disciples following his resurrection, he gave them a mission. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

God sent Jesus to be our Savior, but God was not finished sending. As disciples of Jesus, we also are sent into the world to proclaim that good news of great joy, that God has come to redeem and restore his creation. Do you know what we call sent people? We call them missionaries.

This is your new gospel identity as a follower of Jesus Christ. You are a missionary. You might think, “I’m not a missionary. Missionaries travel across the world.” However, if you look up “missionary” in the dictionary, it just means “one sent on a mission.”

We are sent as missionaries to our family, neighborhood, workplace, schools, and every other sphere of life. In other words, we’re given a mission to reach the people around us, wherever we are with the good news of great joy.

Everyone God saves, God sends. The result of our reconciliation is we are also entrusted with the mission to implore others to be reconciled to God. Where have you been sent?

Savior, send us as your missionaries to share your good news of great joy. Amen.