a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests” (Luke 2:14).
As recorded above, angels came together to do something happy. Was it to party away the night? No. They did two things.
First, they praised God. They praised God because God has done something marvelous: when humankind is in danger of perishing eternally due to sin, God sent Jesus to save the entire world. As Christmas approaches, let us remember to thank and praise God. Christmas is celebrated by praising and thanking God. The Truine God must be glorified and honoured on Christmas. On Christmas day, a large team of angels numbering tens of thousands or more praised God. We must do likewise. Let us prepare our hearts for this great occasion by first recalling God’s goodness to us in giving us eternal life. Only then with grateful hearts can we truly praise God as a church on the Lord’s Day, 24th December 2017.
Do not celebrate Christmas like the world of the ungodly where they party, get drunk, and indulge in their own pleasures. But we thank God not only on Christmas Day. We should thank God daily and every moment of our lives by serving faithfully and living selflessly for our Saviour. This is true thankfulness to God for giving us Christmas.
Second, the angels did not only come together to praise God. They also told the shepherds the good news:
Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
The angels announced the good news of the birth of the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise, Christmas is truly celebrated when we share the good news, that is, the gospel, with people who are still outside God’s kingdom. On the 22nd December, Friday night, the church will go to homes to announce the good news about our Saviour: there is hope for them. Humankind need no longer fear sufferings, death, and hell. Jesus can save them from everything that can hurt us. How? Sin is the root cause of our misery. “All have sinned” against God (Rom 3:23), and “the wages [consequences] of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). For that reason, there is suffering, physical death, and eternal death in hell. But Christmas has removed these horrible threats: Jesus Christ who is God became human on Christmas. This perfect human being died for us; He was punished for sins. For that reason, anyone who is willing to accept Him as Saviour need not face the punishment due to sin. Your sins will be forgiven. God will give you eternal life. Death is forever defeated. This is the most important and best news. The greatest enemy of humankind is forever destroyed.
This is such wonderful news. You must proclaim it. Today, at 12:45pm after the English Worship and Chinese Sunday School, we will meet to practise singing Christmas carols. Join in. I urge you also, by faith with prayer, open your homes for the carolling team. Invite your friends and relatives to hear the gospel. The whole church should do likewise: invite your friends to these open homes. Then Christmas is truly celebrated.