Healing Rays of Righteousness

Once again, we have closed out the year by gathering with the shepherds and angels around the stable manger, giving worship to the baby born to us. And once again we remain wrapped in a world of darkness and hopeless despair.

I wonder as I wander back through these past few weeks, did I see and feel the terrifying LIGHT of the Lord’s presence and glory? In the stillness of the dark night did I really hear the angel’s SHOUT, “Today … a Savior has been born to you.”  What was the depth of my amazement as I gazed at the baby in Mary’s embrace? How much emotion was expressed in my singing “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

Did I at least try to feebly feel the euphoria of renewed HOPE that this baby birthed in the hearts of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and all who heard the news? The long wait for this promised Savior had been painful and many had lost all HOPE. But now the angel’s “good news” rekindled the dying embers of HOPE within them, and they were joyfully amazed that God had not forgotten his promise to them.

The song, “To Us a Child of Hope Is Born” is an appropriate and perfect song for these first days of a new year. Listen carefully to its “good news” message and believe its promises for today’s darkness.

  1.      To us a child of hope is born, to us a son is giv’n.

            Him shall the tribes of earth o-bey, him all the hosts of heav’n,

            him shall the tribes of earth o-bey, him all the hosts of heav’n.

   2.      His name shall be the Prince of peace, for-ev-er-more a-dored,

            the Won-der-ful, the Coun-se-lor, the great and might-y Lord,

            the Won-der-ful, the Coun-se-lor, the great and might-y Lord.

   3.      His pow’r, in-creas-ing, still shall spread, his reign no end shall know.

            Jus-tice shall guard his throne a-bove, and peace a-bound be-low,

            jus-tice shall guard his throne a-bove, and peace a-bound be-low.

God’s gift of HOPE given us in Jesus’ birth, is a vibrant vision of possibilities that encourages us to live forward from where we are. In times of trouble and despair, this HOPE provides “a way forward” toward a Godly destiny of “justice” and “peace” worthy of our endurance. This HOPE is the energy that gets us out of bed in the morning and shapes our activity for the day. It also helps us to sleep well at night, knowing that we are lovingly protected and provided for by this child of HOPE, named Jesus.

In both church and non-church conversations I hear a lot of despair being spoken. The daily news is mostly painful and ugly, and the year 2024 looks to be dangerously worse. For many people, of all nationalities, religious beliefs, and political preferences, there seems to be little hope for any “good news” to happen.

However, as children of God’s family, we are given the unmerited gift of HOPE, which propels us forward, joyfully sharing in God’s “with us” peace and triumphant glory. What an amazing gift of love! What a reason to rejoice!

In the darkness, see the LIGHT. In the stillness, hear the SHOUT, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”  Be amazed, and sing “To us a child of hope is born, to us a son is giv’n.” 

Yes, let us make the “good news” story our story for the new year of 2024. And maybe our neighbors and friends will take notice … be amazed … changed … and join with us in singing the song of HOPE.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 3, 2024

www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley