Good News of Great Joy

When I read the Christmas story in Luke, I am struck by the angel’s words to the shepherds:

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” — Luke 2:10

The Good News is for all the people.

For your neighbors with their Christmas lights and snow blowers and dog whose barking wakes you up most days.

For my North African neighbors with their pomegranate trees and laundry blowing in the wind and roosters that crow early each morning.

The Good News is for North Americans and North Africans, for Christians and Muslims. It’s for all the people.

That’s why we’re sent—to share the message that Jesus Christ has come and made a way for all people to find eternal joy in Him alone.

I live in a place that hardly recognizes Christmas. While most of my Muslim neighbors have heard of Jesus, none of them recognize Him as Christ, the Savior of the world. They desperately need this Good News of great joy.

That’s why we’re sent—to share the message that Jesus Christ has come and made a way for all people to find eternal joy in Him alone.

“I have so many questions about religion,” a local friend, Samir, told me. He’s a devout Muslim who attends the mosque and prays daily. “But Islam hasn’t brought me any closer to the answers to my questions.”

Samir is hungry for truth, and we meet often for spiritual discussion. Pray that our conversations point him to the Good News of great joy: Jesus is for him. Jesus is for his people. Jesus is for all the people.

• Pray that Samir will find the answers to his spiritual questions in Jesus Christ.
• Pray for men, women, and children in Muslim communities to receive the message of the Gospel with great joy.
• Ask the Lord to equip and send more teams of long-term workers to share the Good News with Muslims—that all peoples may praise Him.