Go Tell it On The Mountain

Artwork:
The Birth of Jesus with Shepherds by François Vidil, (1973). In collaboration with the Mafa Community in Cameroon, Africa, Father François Vidil created a series of artwork known as Vie de Jesus (Life of Jesus). A serene and joyful depiction of the shepherds looking upon the baby Jesus while illuminated by the warm glow of a fire.

Carol Text: John Wesley Work, Jr., 1865
Carol Melody: John Wesley Work
Piano accompaniment by Lezlie Taguding

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And brought us God’s salvation
That blessed Christmas morn

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth

When I was a sinner
I prayed both night and day
I asked the Lord to help me
And He showed me the way

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

- Luke 2:16-18

Advent Devotional


A great gulf exists between the wonder of hearing the Christmas story and the challenge of proclaiming it. On one level, our hesitancy makes no sense. What could be a more joyous announcement to tell a friend, relative, co-worker, or even a total stranger than the good news! God has come to earth—not only to reveal Himself  clearly to us but to powerfully save us from our sins! Joy to the world! So what stops us for telling it on the mountain and everywhere?

On another level it makes perfect sense for us to expect resistance, rejection, and outright hatred. Jesus promised that we’d face these kinds of responses – and worse! We tend to forget—at our own peril—that the same Lord who proclaimed, “God so loved the world…” (John 3:16) also warned, “You will behated by everyone because of me” (Matt. 10:22).

That’s because the gospel message is both good news and bad news. The gospel tells us we’re more wicked and sinful than we ever dared believe and, at the same time, more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope. While the message about Jesus promises forgiveness, grace, and eternal life, it also requires repentance, humility, and “dying to self.”

So, yes, go tell it on the mountains, over the hills and every- where. Not everyone will rejoice with you, but it’s well worth it to take the risk. Because, for some people—perhaps many—the response will be “When I was a sinner, I prayed both night and day, I asked the Lord to help me and He showed me the way.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I pray that you open doors
for me to tell others the good news

of the Christmas story. Please lead me to
people who have softened hearts,

ready to repent, receive, and rejoice.
And when I face opposition, may

the joy of Your love for me outweigh
people’s rejection of me.


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Randy Newman

Randy Newman is the Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism at the C.S. Lewis Institute. He has taught at several evangelical seminaries. After serving for over 30 years with Campus Crusade for Christ, he established Connection Points, a ministry to help Christians engage people’s hearts the way Jesus did. He has written six books, Questioning EvangelismCorner ConversationsBringing the Gospel HomeEngaging with Jewish People, Unlikely Converts: Improbable Stories of Faith and What They Teach Us About Evangelism and his most recent, Mere Evangelism. Randy has also written numerous articles about evangelism and other ways our lives intertwine with God’s creation. He earned his MDiv and PhD in Intercultural Studies from Trinity International University.
 

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