Good news of great joy!
You are warmly welcome to Kakumba Chapel!
As we celebrate Bible Sunday at Kakumba Chapel today, remember it is Good News, and that reminds me of what we shared the last Christmas:
Joy to the world, Christmas is here! After all the negative and miserable news that has flooded us in the recent past – international, regional, national, or even many other challenges affecting us at individual and family level – after all this or even in the midst thereof we need some real good news to brighten the day. We rejoice to hear of new babies born to families in this Church, progressing offices and businesses, successful education achievements, and we celebrate many blessings that make our lives tick.
“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.” This was Isaiah’s prophecy to a battered land. In the worst of times God's people have a nevertheless to comfort themselves with, something to allay and balance their troubles; Naphtali and Zebulun (the region of Galilee – Is 9:1) lay remote and most exposed to the inroads of the neighboring enemies especially Assyria; they were in the firing line: they were part of area that principally suffered in the first Assyrian invasion under Tiglath-pileser (2Ki 15:29). Nevertheless, in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, they were the first that enjoyed the blessings of Christ’s preaching the Gospel, and exhibiting his miraculous works among them.
The Angel’s announcement to the Bethlehem shepherds had a much wider scope than they could comprehend at that time:
And the angel said…, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
‘All the people’ includes the living then and later across the whole timeline of which we are part today. Choose to hear and receive this good news of great joy today. According to Johnny Enlow, “news is not a minor issue. The news we hear and the news we give are both powerful conditioners of the human spirit. Defiled news defiles people, and noble news invigorates people… God does not bring us hopeless, tragic news and just expect us to deal with it. He always seasons it with hope.” The hope today is the new born King, a Saviour, Christ the Lord. May the joy He brings dispel every gloom you could have experienced, and cause your today and the future to be brighter than ever before.
God bless you.