When the Lord wants you to know something or do something He “speaks” to us, and will give us the message in more than one way. One of the first things that came to my mind this morning was the song “Go Tell It On The Mountain”. What’s interesting is that with all the Christmas music I’ve been listening to, I don’t consciously recall hearing it recently. Then after my first cup of coffee, I refilled my cup and opened up the two devotionals I’ve been using to begin my quiet time with the Lord. And there is the message again: tell people that Jesus was born–deliver the good news of the gospel!

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-16)

God chose a bunch of simple shepherds to be the first to circulate the good news of Christ’s coming; He was able to use these humble men to share His glory. “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.” (Luke 2:7) And if we make ourselves available to Him, He can use each of us as well.

Don’t just celebrate Christmas this year; circulate it! The shepherds became verbal witnesses of what they had seen and heard. Jesus came to fulfill the promise of the Lord. “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matt. 4:16-17) Jesus is THE Light: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” (John 8:12)

It is easy for us to think that everyone has heard of Jesus and knows the story of His birth and why He came. A friend of mine tells the story that she was in her twenties before she ever heard the name Jesus. Everyone hasn’t heard, and it is up to us to share the true meaning of Christmas with other. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Christmas provides a great opportunity to share the good news with family and friends whose hearts will be more open than at any other time of year.

Down in a lowly manger, Our humble Christ was born, And God sent us salvation, that blessed Christmas morn. Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.