A Christmas Victory to Remember!

 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

                                                     Luke  2:14  

This was spoken the night Jesus was born and it still rings true today. Nothing has changed – we still give glory to God in the highest and we still receive His peace on earth and goodwill to men! God has not changed and His plan for peace and His good will has not changed.

It would appear that evil and disease increases daily since the peace and goodwill proclaimed over earth appears to be overshadowed, causing many to lose sight of the hope and victory found in glorifying God. But it isn't as real as people think.

For a moment, let us imagine the events surrounding the birth of our Savior. Joseph and Mary made the long trek to be counted in the census while she was “very” pregnant and her time was near to deliver her child.

Once Joseph and Mary got to Bethlehem she went into labor, delivered her baby, wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a feeding trough.

While this was happening, shepherds were living out in the fields protecting their sheep from predators during the nighttime hours when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and stood before them. The shepherds were wide awake, fully alert, and knew this was not a dream but was very real! They were watching for wild animals, not angels, so imagine their surprised faces and thoughts when the angel appeared with the glory of the Lord shining around them.

So great was the glory and the shock of seeing an angel the shepherds were “greatly afraid”.

Just as assuredly as predators, sin, and disease come, so comes the Lord! Just as God arrives to surprise the shepherds, He arrives to surprise us when we need it the most. While we are here, like the shepherds, we need to be about our Father’s business, fulfilling our calling, and staying ready and alert for His divine visits.

If an angel appearing were not enough, now “suddenly ” a multitude of the heavenly host shows up to praise God.

We must be ready for the “suddenlies” in life! Sometimes we can be so busy “with” life, enduring and persevering, far too absorbed with the evil and disease in the world that we are void of the joy, peace, faith, and hope that God will show up “suddenly”! If we “know” God is into “suddenlies”.

This was a life-changing, mountain-moving experience that changed the shepherd’s lives, and can change ours as well. This truth (His Truth) overcomes all sin and disease because when we give Him glory, believe this declaration of peace on earth and good will toward men, we will not magnify evil, sin, and disease in this world knowing it pales in comparison to His glory!

Perhaps you are struggling in the midst of evil, persecuted or suffering with disease. Perhaps you are one who is watching a loved one suffer. Maybe all things are calm and right in your world and you can only sense the turmoil around but feel untouched by it yourself.

Whatever your situation, join the angelic chorus and proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to men!" Believe God is going to show up “suddenly” in your life. See God for who He is, not what we have made Him to be! This Christmas – Let’s declare, believe, and proclaim to our world “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will to men!”

Dan Castleberry is on the Pastoral ministry team and leads various ministries at Royalwood. He is married to Robyn and has three beautiful daughters.  You can  follow Dan on Twitter,