Faithfully yours - Take it personally—make it personal

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Published on Saturday, December 26, 2015

By Neil Strohschein

The Neepawa Banner

My favorite part of the Christmas story is the account of the angel’s visit to the shepherds. They were not in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. In fact, they were probably a mile or two away, doing what shepherds did—spending every hour of every day looking after their sheep.

They were as surprised as anyone when the angel came to see them. They were shocked when they heard the message: “To you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Yes, shepherds—to you—not to anyone else—to you. This news is for you!

Unlike many whom Jesus met during his time on earth, the shepherds got the point. After the angel left, they looked at each other and said; “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass that God has revealed to us.” They took the message personally. It had come to them and it was up to them to check it out, verify its accuracy and then spread the news.

There are two parts to every message that people receive. There is a public part—the information that is shared with all people. We don’t know how many shepherds were out with their sheep that night, but we know that they all heard the same message. God didn’t send one message to one shepherd and something totally different to the rest.

But each of the shepherds had to believe the angel’s words and act on what he had heard. Each of the shepherds had to personally choose to put his sheep in the pen, close and lock the gate and then go to Bethlehem and see for himself what had happened that night. The message may have been given in a public setting, but it was a personal message and it required a personal response.

The same is true of the gospel we share. The public part is found in John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” The personal part is found in Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” 

Now—what’s the difference between believing in Christ and believing on him?

There is a bridge at the east end of Hamilton St. in Neepawa. It crosses the Whitemud River just north of Riverbend Park. I have been to Riverbend many times and have watched all sorts of vehicles cross that bridge. Every vehicle has made it across safely.

If someone was to ask me: “Neil, do you believe that bridge can get you across the river?” I would quickly answer “Yes. My car, even with me in it, is much lighter than the campers and motorhomes that have crossed that bridge. I believe in the bridge.”

But that doesn’t get me across the river. To do that, I have to get in my car and drive over the bridge. At that point, I no longer just believe in the bridge—now I believe on the bridge because it is the only thing keeping my car from drowning with me in it.

The message of Christmas is a personal message. A Savior has been born for you. We believe in him when we accept as fact that he died to save us from our sins. We believe on him when we welcome him into our lives and accept the forgiveness he offers to all who believe.