Page 29 - Robeson Living Winter 2021

and so full of hope, so needful and so valuable, that he does not minds of those who walk with him day by day. It does not mean
trust a man to tell it. He assigned it to an Angel and not just any that we do not face trouble and sorrow, but it does mean that
Angel but the Angel of the Lord. As He sends him to the earth amidst all that we face we still have a joy that the world cannot
to deliver the message, He also sent a multitude of other angels give us, and the world cannot take it away.
with him. One Angel to preach and the rest to sing. One Angel
to share the message and the rest to say Amen. The angel’s good news is to be shared, as long as humanity will
dwell upon the earth. It is good news to any person who will
For the great announcement concerning the birth of his Son, hear it, believe it, and place their faith and confidence in it.
you would have thought that God would send the Angel to We call this message the Gospel. The Gospel has the power to
Jerusalem, the hometown to his earthly people the Jews. You change any person’s life. Regardless of a man’s past and how
would have thought he would have shown up in the temple indifferent and rebellious he has been toward God. If he will
where the priest would be conducting their religious duties. repent of his sins and call upon the name of the Lord, He will
You would have thought the message would have arrived in the be saved. What a grand invitation and a grand opportunity is
middle of the day when the most people would have been pres- given the Christian community to share the good news that the
ent to receive it. But it is true. God does not think like a man, Savior is born.
so he does not act like a man. God had lost his patience with
the religious crowd, and He is fretted with the religious leaders. The savior did not come to give us a national holiday. The Sav-
For this announcement He chooses a lowly, humble congrega- ior came to give us eternal life. A life in the presence of God
tion of shepherds. Men who did not enjoy much prestige, honor when life is over in this world. It is good news, which will
nor power. They were lowly humble servants whose occupa- bring great joy, to anybody who will receive it and place their
tions as shepherds put them in a lower class, according to the faith in it. If you cannot point to a time in your past where you
way men looked at them. God places a high value upon them deliberately and intentionally accepted the Savior into your
as He does with all men, including those who in their walk of heart, then today could be the beginning have a brand-new life.
life, never enjoy the applause of men. It is of great hope to the invite Jesus to come into your heart and forgive you of your
poor and the outcast and those who are regarded as worthless, sins. The message declared by the angels 2000 years ago is still
that the God of creation has time for all those who will come the same message today. Receive it and be saved.
to him.

Pastor Charles P. Locklear
These humble shepherds were given the high honor of being Bethany Christian Fellowship
the first to hear the good news that the Christ child has been
born in Bethlehem. As you might imagine, the sudden appear- 307 S. Jones St. Pembroke, NC 28372
ance of angels to this group of men created a great deal of Director, Morning Star Ministries, Box 220,
fear. In fact, they were sore afraid. The Angel recognized their Pembroke, NC 28372
frightened appearance and immediately seeks to calm them by www.morningstar-ministries.com start
saying, fear not. He then proceeds to give them three reasons
why they need not be afraid. [email protected] (910) 734-8795

First, He has come with good Tidings. After four hundred years
of silence, I suppose that man expected God’s next message to
be one of judgment, condemnation, and anger. But to man’s
surprise God has something good to say. His tidings are good
and pleasant. The good news is that in Bethlehem, a Savior is
born, who is the Christ, the Messiah that had been promised,
even as far back as the garden of Eden. The Angel declares, I
have good news. The Christ has arrived and is now present in
the world. He has come to redeem humanity from his sin and
to be his Savior.

To those who will allow Christ to be the Lord of their lives,
they will discover great joy in living for him and walking in
fellowship with him. Jesus brings great joy into the hearts and

Robeson Living ~ Winter 2021 Page 29