Advent Calendar – December 18th

Luke 2:17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

A familiar Bible study topic (and area with which most of us struggle from time to time) is gossip. You hear something “juicy” and want to pass it along. Oft times it bubbles up in us like the lava in a volcano, heating and rising until we think we’ll explode if we don’t tell someone. Unfortunately, just like that molten liquid, the spilling of the info can be destructive and painful – something from which one will never fully be able to recover from, or if you’re the gossiper, you will never be able to take back. It’s no wonder the Bible so often addresses gossip and slander. One of my favorite Scripture verses that I pray (daily) is Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips.”

However…

There are times when it is joyful and healthy and altogether appropriate to “start spreading the news” about something wonderful — and the shepherds wasted no time in telling everyone they knew about the good news of Jesus’ birth. Today they’d be knocking on doors, phoning, emailing, text-messaging, posting and going live on social media and doing whatever they could to tell people they’d just seen a host of heavenly angels!! Alert the media – film at 11!

Sometimes it’s harder to share the quiet love in your heart of Jesus and the amazing news of His free gift of salvation. Without all the fanfare, where do you begin? Like a gift, just give your story to someone, open it up like the bow on a gift, one step at a time. Just as He helps you to not speak out hurtful words, God will give you the words you need to share the greatest present you’ve ever had – a personal relationship with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Now there are some words (and a gift) that will last!