Good Will Toward All People
I am reading the Gospel of Luke as part of my Advent devotions. The first two chapters are largely dedicated to the months leading up to Jesus’ birth, before we get to observe him in action. Already there are indications that Jesus is somebody special:
“You shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His Father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (1:32-33).
This is the promised King who will reign in the Spirit of Isaiah 9 (“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace… with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore”), to whom all leaders in heaven and on earth bow, and by whom all the promises of global redemptive influence given to Abraham will be fulfilled. The signals of His conception and birth here in Luke 1 all act as witnesses, confirmations of His divine identity.
What strikes me here is that we are immediately served notice that Jesus is more than someone to emulate; He is, in fact, someone to worship and honour as King. If this is true, then the first order of business in the celebration of Christmas is to honour Jesus as supreme and sovereign in my life. I need to seek audience regularly with Him in worship and prayer, seek His will in the large and small things of my life, and trust Him to work all things together for my good.
In other words, will I acknowledge Him as Sovereign in my life? Will I accede to His rightful leadership in my life in the large and small areas of my life because of love and reverent fear for Who He is? As a worship leader, if I am to lead people to Jesus, an important part of this is helping them to see Him as King – not just as a good moral teacher or impressive historic individual, but, as attested to in the many miraculous events of His birth, life, death and resurrection, as Eternal Sovereign Authority in the universe, worthy of worship and rejoicing. And should that strike fear or resistance in people (since no one likes to be told what to do), the Holy Spirit has inspired songs from Mary and Zechariah that exult in what that rule is like. It is a rule characterized by mercy, intervention on behalf of the weak and oppressed, promises that are kept, forgiveness of sins, empowerment for serving Him “without fear, in holiness and righteousness all our days” (1:74). This is the kind of rule for which the whole earth is groaning, and thus His coming is a source of joy (1:44, 47) – unless, of course, one is proud and arrogant and unwilling to accede rule to the Victorious King.
The biggest challenge, I think, is remembering Christ’s Lordship over the little details of my life, the ones that only I am aware of. I am so easily distracted. But my Sovereign is present and sees everything, and He desires for every moment of my life to be an act of worship. If I could take all the time I’ve wasted over the years and compiled it together, the hours and hours of prayer, worship, study and relationship with others that could have been experienced are staggering, and would contribute significantly to the authority and power of the Spirit that characterizes Jesus’ life and ministry.
This is ultimately what the angels meant when they sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will toward humanity!" As Paul so eloquently exults, in Romans 8:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This Christmas, may we remember that we reach our greatest potential, we experience the "good will" of God toward us, when we submit to Him as the Good and Victorious King!