Earlier today on Bellshill Salvation Army Band’s Facebook page I shared the devotions I shared at our band practice last Wednesday evening. I’d like to share those devotions with you tonight.
Christmas is the season when heaven touched earth in the most unexpected way. Not with trumpets or armies, but with the cry of a newborn child. In Bethlehem’s quiet night, God’s love was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.
The shepherds were the first to hear the good news:
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 Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
God’s announcement wasn’t made to kings or scholars, but to ordinary people watching sheep under the stars. It reminds us that the gift of Jesus is for everyone: the weary, the overlooked, the broken, and the joyful – in other words, for everyone.
Christmas is not just about remembering the birth of Christ; it’s about welcoming Him into our hearts today. The manger points us to the cross, and the cross points us to the empty tomb. The story begins with hope and ends with victory.
So as we celebrate, let’s pause to marvel at the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us. Let’s carry His light into our homes, our workplaces, and our communities, just as the shepherds carried the news into the streets of Bethlehem.
And to help us reflect on that joy, let’s finish with this beautiful reminder in song, ‘Make Room’ by Laura and Estera Bretan.
The Distinct Dot 