Image: CRBC outreach at Epworth Manor Apartments, Louisa, Virginia (12.21.16)
Note: Devotion taken from John
Calvin’s commentary on Luke 2:8-14.
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not:
for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people.
The angel opens his discourse by saying that he announces great joy; and next assigns the ground
or matter of joy, that a Savior is born. These words show us first, that until men
have peace with God, and are reconciled to him through the grace of Christ, all
the joy that they experience is deceitful, and of short duration. Ungodly men frequently indulge in frantic and
intoxicating mirth; but if there be none to make peace between them and God,
the hidden stings of conscience must produce fearful torment. Besides, to whatever extent they may flatter
themselves in luxurious indulgence; their own lusts are so many
tormentors. The commencement of solid
joy is, to perceive the fatherly love of God toward us, which alone gives
tranquility to our minds. And this
“joy,” in which, Paul tells us, “the kingdom of God” consists is “in the Holy
Spirit” (Rom 14:17). By calling it great joy, he shows us, not only that we
ought, above all things, to rejoice in the salvation brought us by Christ, but
that this blessing is so great and boundless, as fully to compensate for all
the pains, distresses, and anxieties of the present life. Let us learn to be so delighted with Christ
alone, that the perception of his grace may overcome and at great length remove
from us, all the distresses of the flesh.
Grace and peace, Pastor
Jeff Riddle
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