Inspirational and Uplifting Bible Verses: Be Encouraged by the Good News; Luke Chapter 2

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:8-11 NIV”

Here we are with 3 days to go until Christmas 2013. My Christmas spirit meter is reading pretty high; not like when I was as a kid, but close. Why is that? Well, things have become increasingly challenging over the last few years, I’m at an age and fork in the road where cynicism often takes hold. I recall the day when the concept of cynicism first became evident to me. My big brother and I, along with an unnamed non-nuclear family relative, were in the family room of my house. We were watching NBA basketball on TV, probably the Sixers or Celtics. No remote, you had to change the channel by turning a knob, we only had 4 or 5 channels. My brother was completely immersed in basketball, that’s what he did: played hoops. I soon would as well, via mandatory recruitment. My preference was to watch Star Trek, but he would come inside, pull me out of my bean bag chair and inform me that I was now being drafted into his league; a league comprised of him, myself and our cousin Dan. They needed a third guy, or “switch man”, and I was it. So hoops it was, and, of course, Joseph’s intent was to eventually play in the NBA, become like Pete Maravich or Nate Archibald. This plan vocalized on that day while watching the game. Our unnamed relative, in response, let my brother know how deluded he and/or we were to think for a second that anything of that magnitude would ever be accomplished in our lives. Little bit of a dispute ensued and the day pressed on. But I remember the cynicism clearly, and now I know why it happens: it happens when the world beats you down to the point where your dreams go away and your hope gets drained, and the suggestion of anyone doing anything good becomes a reminder that you perhaps had not; and a cynic is born. Instead of learning, picking ourselves up, recharging batteries and rekindling dreams, we just give up and cop a permanent negative attitude.

And what, mind you, would that have to do with Christmas? It has to do with good news: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news...” That’s what Gospel means. It means “good news”: good news that a very special Child was born around 2000 years ago. I believe He came here on our behalf, to provide reparation for a broken relationship and world. Said reparation in place, but not yet fully realized. That comes later, all things made right. Something we can ultimately look forward to.

For now, we can forego the cynic route and be encouraged to cast our cares upon Him with full faith He loves us as His own despite an environment often suggesting otherwise. Things will remain tough at times, but there is certainly a plan in place for us; one in which we need not be victims of random chance and probability imposed by a harsh world. As such, I will be looking forward to something great happening this upcoming year, and make it a point to encourage others to do the same. Maybe some of us can do it together.