Spiritual Growth

Week 3: Sharing the True Christmas Message

Advent Meditations from Billy Graham

December 1, 2012 - Do you know people who need to hear about God's love and forgiveness? Billy Graham's third Advent meditation focuses on sharing the true Christmas message.

Week 3: Sharing the True Christmas Message

On that first Christmas night, the angels appeared to shepherds on a hill near Bethlehem. Alfred Edersheim, the great 19th-century Jewish-Christian scholar, wrote in his book The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah that the shepherds and the sheep to whom the angels appeared near Bethlehem were no ordinary shepherds and sheep.

The sheep were those bound for the temple sacrifices. The shepherds were outcasts because of their necessary isolation from religious ordinances. And their manner of life rendered legal observances unlikely, if not absolutely impossible.

How wonderful that in God’s wisdom and love the angels should appear to them—the doomed and the outcast—that night.

Today we can declare to the world that the Good Shepherd cares for all people and wants to give them peace. Christ came on that first Christmas for one great purpose—to die on the cross for our sins. Now God offers forgiveness, inner peace, and eternal life to all who will repent and believe in His Son. This is the Christmas message!

Do you know people who need to hear about God’s love and forgiveness? Will you share the true Christmas message with them this year?

Read the Meditation for Week Two »

Read the Meditation for Week One »

 

21 Comments

Pastor.A.James Williams, M.Th. says 1.8.2013, 00:08 a.m.

Timely Christmas message for the lost World. thank you for the word to the people who are in darkness

Annie says 12.23.2012, 11:54 a.m.

I will speak of Your Love and Forgiveness also before Kings and Nations, and will not be ashamed,.....for I'm not ashamed of the Gospel of christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth. AMEN!

joan says 12.22.2012, 11:34 a.m.

It was my privilege to lead some one to Christ this Christmas. It is the best gift for him to receive Christ as his personal Saviour and gave me great Joy Blessing to you Billy and family

Dave says 12.21.2012, 3:45 p.m.

People for the last 4000 years have attempted to reach out to god. With Jesus God reaches out to people.

Patrick says 12.21.2012, 00:00 a.m.

I think it is amazing work of GOD who can come down on this earth to show his love towards man kind, and his greatness.

Jeremiah says 12.11.2012, 5:51 p.m.

God becomes a man so that we may have abundant life in Him. Merry Christmas to everyone.

Sharon says 12.24.2011, 1:24 p.m.

Thank you Mr. Graham for giving my husband and I a way to celebrate advent. We have used your devotionals and they have been a blessing.May God continue to bless you and your family. God is so good to us.

Leicia says 12.21.2011, 7:11 p.m.

Thank you, Mr. Graham, for reminding us of God's loving provision for all of us. Reflecting on the experience of those ancient shepherds is wonderful. Merry Christmas, Mr. Graham.

Annie says 12.13.2011, 2:13 p.m.

My LORD and my Savior, Make me a light in a dark place. No matter where You are going to take me, I want to follow Your call with all my heart! MERRY CHRISTMAS to you Rev. Billy Graham, your family and your Ministry BGEA.....!!!

Lillian says 12.11.2011, 4:52 p.m.

I love to hear this again and again from Billy Graham..What a wonderful inspiration to all who hear him talk...Thank you...God Bless and Merry Christmas..

Deon says 12.11.2011, 1:41 p.m.

Praise the Lord!!!! Shared with our church this morning that when God created the earth "the angels shouted for joy" (Job 38); when God sent His Son Jesus Christ and the angel appeared to the shepherds, "the angels sang for joy...a Savior has been born...Christ the Lord...Glory to God in the highest...."

solomon says 12.11.2011, 12:59 a.m.

God's love for men and women all over the world, cannot be overemphasized due to the countless number of times he has shown to mankind that he loves us. But the fact is that humans are so ungrateful and unthankful.

Faye says 12.11.2011, 09:41 a.m.

Thank you for this little 'gem' from the Word. I agree with Karen; that God would seek the outcast, forgotten and doomed first. I got to wondering what the conversations must have been like for those shepherds. So like our God to do this.

nzan kikon says 12.11.2011, 09:37 a.m.

I thought that they were just ordinary shepherds. But,hey! thank you Dr.Graham for the info. am enlightened.

Obafemi says 12.14.2010, 07:59 a.m.

When God was making the Earth and all that was/is within them, God when making man invested more but man failed and hence clearing away the fact that is to whom much is given much is expected. Therefore Jesus was slain which was revealed physically when He came and died for our sins but before his death he has to be born, so that he would actually be referred to as "man". Hence by a 'man' we inherit death but by another 'Man' Life for evermore.

andrew says 12.13.2010, 1:40 p.m.

I tried many time to go to a Billy Graham crusade in New York, but did not have the money. I have been to the Billy Graham library in Charlotte, NC. I hive plenty of time to share with him in eternity. thanks Andrew Hayes

Kerry says 12.13.2010, 1:25 p.m.

i think its amazing to know that God loves each one of us. He doesn't see us as a status. He sees our hearts and loves us unconditionally. Find it interesting that God uses the ordinary to do His work.

Karen says 12.13.2010, 12:28 a.m.

It never occurred to me that the shepherds were outcast. It is just like God to include such, maybe first and foremost before anyone else.

sheryl says 12.13.2010, 05:06 a.m.

Don't you just love how God is so not like us..how great is our God ..thank you God for caring for such as these ( us ).. I love Him bless His holy name...

Ellis says 12.12.2010, 10:26 p.m.

It is wonderful act of God. He never neglects any one in this world.

Moses says 12.12.2010, 9:41 p.m.

King of kings should logically have been revealed to great shepherds at least, if not a great king. God preferred to speak directly to those who obviously needed salvation. No welcome ceremonies. God's ways...

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