After last week’s “Back to the Basics” devotion, I’ll
keep it very basic this week. One of the key assets of a good coach is clear
communication in the huddle. A coach must figure out how to get his point across
quickly and effectively… this includes the instructions needed and the mood
needed (sometimes developing urgency, other times slowing/calming things down.)
In Luke 2 we see the angel of the Lord calming things down
with the statement to not be afraid; I’m sure there was a sense of excitement
behind the words “good tiding of great joy to all people… a Savior!” I’m sure
all the angels that gathered to proclaim (God’s goodness and the promise of
peace) were smiling and excited!
And then we see that the shepherds went on to proclaim
what they had heard, “the saying which was told them.” (vs 17) I bet they were ecstatic
getting to share this news!
This simple reminder this week… joyful share the hope and
peace we have in the Savior; and like the shepherds, simply share the message
as you have received it in the Word! We don’t have to add to it and confuse it,
we simply have to clearly share it. Our message is of the birth of a Savior and
the promise that there is eternal life for all who believe in who He is and
what He has done… He is the Messiah! He paid the price for sin and offers new
life to those that believe… communicate this simply and clearly.
(I heard a message this past weekend where the preacher
was quoting John 3:16. He was doing a fine job of telling the congregation that
all hope is found in Jesus; until he started talking too much. He stated that
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son; he stated that those
who believe in Him receive eternal life; and then he started trying to explain things
by saying. “what we mean when we say believe in is…” He then proceeded to
remove the CHRISTmas spotlight from God giving and put it on man giving to God.
Let me do some coach speak here, when God says to believe in Christ to be saved,
He means to believe in Christ to be saved… “believe in” means “believe in”!)
Salvation is not a gift exchange… it is a free gift (GRACE)
from God to undeserving man that is received by believing in (FAITH) the
promised Savior (JESUS) that paid for sin and restores us to PEACE with God!
Merry CHRISTmas everyone… and if you haven’t “unwrapped”
your gift from God yet, let today be the day of salvation: Believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ and be saved…! (Acts 16:31 NASB)
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