Good Tidings of the Kingdom

Isaiah 40:9  KJV  O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

Luke 2:10  KJV  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people

Last night about fifty of us went Christmas caroling at a local nursing home.  We all gathered in the front entrance area and when we walked in, we were immediately in front of most of the residents in their cafeteria.  We formed a long line along on of the sides of the cafeteria and began singing several well known Christmas carols. 

As one might guess there were a range of responses, but the majority were smiles, some tears of joy and plenty of those singing along with us.  After we got through a number of the carols we turned to make a couple of loops through the hallways for the residents who weren't in the cafeteria.  We started singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in a cheerfully peppy manner and we strolled down the hall. 

As I was thinking about about last night, I considered the "good tidings" that we brought into that place.  I thought of the memories that our singing must have brought to the folks who were there.  I know in my own life, hearing certain songs are tied to wonderful memories - especially this time of year when I put on Christmas at Luther CDs and relive the beauty of those songs.

I did a search on the term "good tidings" and the two scriptures popped up.  The Isaiah passage is particularly memorable to me as the piece in Part I of Handel's Messiah "Oh thou, that tellest good tidings to Zion" as breaks out into its wonderful counterpoint.  As you consider that verse, I consider the good tidings (news) that was at the time for those people and how the good news of the Kingdom can be good news to people we live and work with who perhaps don't know the Lord. 

It's typical in our society that many would have a negative view towards Christianity.  Many of us our familiar with the Brennan Manning quote "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."  Those who have had those types of experiences and have said "no thank you" based on it can be won by simply hearing the Good News. 

I get the impression that I am wrapping up this entry in a bit of a sour note.  Kind of odd since the title is Good Tidings of the Kingdom.  Nevertheless - let us endeavor to share Good Tidings of the Kingdom as we are focused on the Kingdom and living in it.  It will come pouring out of us during this season and beyond.  Tell them - Behold, your King!!