“To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.” – Luke 1:74-75, NKJV

Dear friends, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus today, I want to share something special tucked into Luke’s Gospel that captures the heart of what this season truly means.

Our meditation today comes from Zechariah’s inspired song in which he sings about God’s promise “to grant us deliverance for service to His purposes on earth.  

Mark the word, grant. It’s simple, everyday language.

When someone gives an organization a grant, they’re giving it freely.

No payment required; no strings attached.

It’s a gift, pure and simple. And here at Christmas, we celebrate the greatest grant God ever gave.

First, God grants us deliverance.

Zechariah wasn’t just thinking about freedom from Roman oppression; the gift goes much deeper.

The real enemies we face aren’t soldiers or rulers with guns or swords; they’re sin, guilt, and death itself.

That Baby born in Bethlehem came to break those chains.

Jesus lived perfectly, died sacrificially, and rose victoriously so we could be set free.

Now, we can truly worship, live and serve – fearlessly and faithfully – all our days!

It’s rescue we could never earn, graciously handed to us as God’s generous gift.

But the grant doesn’t stop there.

God also grants us the ability to serve Him without fear.

Think about that for a moment. Deliverance always has a purpose: “that we may serve Him without fear.” Deliverance for service.

The Greek denotes worshipful, priest-like ministry, mirroring Israel’s call before the Exodus: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me” (Exodus 8:1).

No more hiding in the shadows, worried about messing up.

No more anxiety about being told you aren’t good enough.

Through Jesus, God invites us into fearless service: living for Him openly and joyfully, every single day.

Those words might sound churchy, but they’re beautifully simple.

‘Holiness’ means being set apart or separated for something special, like those unique glasses you handle with care because they are kept away to serve VIP visitors.

‘Righteousness’ is just living right, being kind, honest, and loving the way God designed us to be.

Here’s the wonderful part: God doesn’t demand we figure this out alone.

He grants it to us through Jesus.

It’s like He’s saying, “Here, take this gift. I’ve got you covered.”

This grant isn’t just for Christmas morning.

It’s for Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings.

It’s for when you’re washing dishes, driving to work, out on the farm, or in the Church playing a musical instrument.

Whether you’re helping a neighbor, forgiving a hurt, or simply sharing His love, you can serve without being held back by fear.

The shepherds didn’t earn the angels’ message; it was granted.

The wise men found a gift beyond gold or myrrh.

As we light candles and unwrap our presents, let’s remember what makes Christmas truly special.

It’s not just about a baby in a manger.

It’s about the promise that Baby brings – freedom to live holy, righteous lives without fear, knowing we’re held by the One who created the stars.

So, this Christmas, receive God’s grant with open hands and a grateful heart.

The gift has been granted. The rescue is complete!

Now, we can truly worship, live and serve – fearlessly and faithfully – all our days!

Merry Christmas, and may God’s fearless joy fill your heart!