12-05-10 AM - Love Divine

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We would like to thank Becky Kelley for allowing us to show her video in service this morning. To see it yourself click here.

Luke 2:8-14
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

1. GOD KNOWS YOU, AND YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO HIM

The Apostle Paul writes, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world & the despised things..." (1 Cor. 1:26-28a).

 "The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, & the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength." 1Corinthians 1:25

"If God cares about sparrows & lilies, then He cares about you."                                                                                 

If God cares for shepherds, He cares for you!
We need to hear that, don’t we?                           
*Children in orphanages need to hear that when they see younger children being adopted & realize that they probably never will be adopted.
*Single Moms raising children on their own need to hear that.
*Lost souls on skid row who drink away their fears need to hear that.
*People who are lonely need to hear that.         
*People who have lost family members need to hear that.                                                                       *Church people who feel useless & empty need to hear that.

2. YOUR LIFE MATTERS, BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU

*I imagine those shepherds must have sat around the campfire many times & wondered if life was really worthwhile or not. "What difference does it make if we watch the sheep or not?"
*Maybe we wonder, too, "What difference does it make if I get up every morning or not? It seems as if my life is an endless cycle of things that really don’t mean anything.                                                                  “We wonder if life is worth living at all?"

Everybody’s life counts for something.

3. YOUR FAITH MATTERS, TOO

"Is our faith worth anything?
Does God hear our prayers?
Does God keep His promises?
Will the Messiah ever come?"

There must have been many who quit praying, & quit having faith. But when the announcement came to shepherds, God was saying, "Your faith matters, & it is not in vain. I am a God who hears & who keeps His promises. Now the Messiah has come, & I have kept My promise."

How about us? Sometimes we become weary. There may be times when we wonder if it is worthwhile going to church. There are times when we wonder if it is worth sacrificing for God.
Sometimes, when I feel weary, I pray, "Lord, why don’t You come today? Why don’t You come & take us all home.

I’ve heard some of you say almost the same thing. "Oh, come, Lord Jesus," we pray, "come quickly!"
We wonder if our prayers are heard.
We wonder why He is waiting so long.
We wonder if it is worth it all.

But one day He will come. He will come for all of us, shepherds & kings, wise men & peasants. He will come for His people. He’ll dry our tears & take away our pain. There will be no more death, no more good-byes. Then we’ll say, "It was worth it. It was worth it all!"