Daily Affirmations - Day 4 - Good Tidings of Great Joy - Guarantee of Grace

Alisa B.
4 days ago
2 min read

Day 4: Guarantee of grace

God is rich in mercy; it is by His grace we are saved

Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones (Isaiah 49:13).

There had been promises made of old which had been the hope and comfort of believers in all ages, and these were now to be fulfilled.

There was that ancient promise made on the threshold of Eden to the first sinners of our race, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head; another promise made to the Father of the faithful that in his seed should all the nations of the earth be blessed, and promises uttered by the mouths of prophets and of saints since the world began.

Now, the announcement of the angel of the Lord to the shepherds was a declaration that the covenant was fulfilled, that now in the fullness of time God would redeem His word, and the Messiah, who was to be Israel's glory and the world's hope; was now really come. Be glad ye heavens, and be joyful O earth, for the Lord hath done it, and in mercy hath He visited His people.

The Lord hath not suffered His word to fail, but hath fulfilled unto His people His promises. The time to favor Zion, yea the set time, is come.

But the angel's song had in it yet fuller reason for joy; for our Lord who was born in Bethlehem came as a Saviour. "Unto you is born this day a Saviour." ...Not as an angel of vengeance, but as a man in mercy God has come; not to spy out our sin, but to remove it; not to punish guilt, but to forgive it.

The Lord might have come with thunderbolts in both His hands; He might have come like Elias to call fire from heaven; but no, His hands are full of gifts of love, and His presence is the guarantee of grace.

The babe born in the manger might have been another prophet of tears, or another son of thunder, but He was not so: He came in gentleness, His glory and his thunder alike laid aside.

~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

All my heart this night rejoices,

As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices;

“Christ is born,” their choirs are singing,

Till the air, everywhere, now with joy is ringing.

Hark! a voice from yonder manger,

Soft and sweet, doth entreat, “Flee from woe and danger;

Brethren, come; from all that grieves you

You are freed; all you need I will surely give you.”

Come, then, let us hasten yonder;

Here let all, great and small, kneel in awe and wonder,

Love Him Who with love is yearning;