“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.”
Isaiah 61:1
When dignitaries come to visit, they go to the capitol, to the Whitehouse, to the palace. They don’t go to the slums. Announcements of good news or of insider information usually are directed to the well-connected. But when God came to earth, He went straight to the shepherds, those of society who at that time were marginalized.
The reality is that the poor and the rich alike are spiritually poor, and God wants to make sure that everyone—well-connected or not—has access to this good news. By prioritizing the lowly, by coming first to the shepherds, He made it clear that He came unlike any other dignitary—He came with compassion.
We can bask in the wonder of it all: that Jesus saves each of us from sin and death. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Salvation comes to us by faith because God loves us. The bold move of sending His angel army to the pastures outside of Bethlehem shows that the good news really is for everyone. Your place in His kingdom is not tied to your wealth; it’s tied to Jesus.
The reality is that the poor and the rich alike are spiritually poor, and God wants to make sure that everyone—well-connected or not—has access to this good news. By prioritizing the lowly, by coming first to the shepherds, He made it clear that He came unlike any other dignitary—He came with compassion.
We can bask in the wonder of it all: that Jesus saves each of us from sin and death. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Salvation comes to us by faith because God loves us. The bold move of sending His angel army to the pastures outside of Bethlehem shows that the good news really is for everyone. Your place in His kingdom is not tied to your wealth; it’s tied to Jesus.
Scripture Focus
Luke 2:8-14
Insight
“The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! The LORD hears the needy.” (Psalm 69:32-33)
Bible In A Year
- Ezekiel 45-46
- Proverbs 3
- Hebrews 1-2