For All People

Romans 10:12-13

Watch on YouTube

Who doesn’t love the giving and receiving of gifts at Christmas time? One year with my family, we had opened all the gifts underneath the Christmas tree. We were appreciating them, enjoying them already, playing with some of the toys, looking at things. We realized there was one more gift under the tree. We pulled it out. There was no name on it. We don’t remember putting it there. How did this get here? What’s going on? We decided to open it up and as a family, we realized it was from a member of our church. And it was a gift. Some treats and sausages and cheeses. A gift given to our whole family intended for all of us.

Similarly, in the Bible, we hear that our Savior is a gift that’s intended for all people, and this is something so incredibly comforting. In the book of Revelation, we hear that these people who are gathered there are from all nations, tribes and people. But even in the Christmas story itself, we see this detail given that even those who are unexpected and who shouldn’t deserve this gift, this is a gift also meant for them.

And we see that especially in the shepherds, these shepherds who were out in their fields watching their sheep in the day of Jesus, shepherds were not known for being people of the highest character and quality. Shepherds, they weren’t even considered to be valid witnesses in a court of law. They were looked down upon. They were humble, lowly people, almost as if they were homeless vagrants at times. And yet, who is it that God gives the first invitation to come and see this newborn Savior? He gives this invite to those shepherds, those humble, lowly shepherds.

What a comfort that is for you and me. God cares about people, even those who are forlorn. Even those who are outcasts in society. Saint Paul emphasizes this, especially in Romans chapter ten. In Romans chapter ten, he says

There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all, who gives generously to all who call on him. Yes, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13)

Whoever it is that puts their trust in Jesus, doesn’t matter about their background, or their past guilt, or their past sins, or how lowly they are if they are outcasts. God invites them to come, to come and worship the Savior. I appreciate this so much. God cares about you. God has sent this gift. Yes, it’s true for all people. God so loved the world. He says that he gave his one and only Son. (John 3:16)

And yet also, this is a gift meant for you. Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8) God wants you to know this Savior belongs to you. This Christmas season as you consider these shepherds, and as they were the ones who were invited to see the newborn Savior. Put yourself in their shoes. Know that just as God was willing and wanting those humble shepherds to come and see the Savior, so too does he call you and me and our neighbors as well. He invites all to come and call upon the name of Jesus to be their Savior from sin.

What a gift this is! You and I have a Savior. We have in this small child that’s born to us, in this lowly one, we see our own salvation, because that little one who was born to us will live for us in our place. He will earn righteousness for us. He would be going to the cross where he would suffer and die. He would give his own lifeblood for our sins. That little one would also one day rise from the dead, which assures you and me that we’re going to rise from our graves. What a great gift this is that we are celebrating this Christmas season.

God’s peace be with you.