Close your eyes, if you need to, but picture the night sky.
The clouds are absent, the stars are shining.
The sounds around are pastoral, for there are sheep spread out chewing down all that is remaining after the harvest.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." Luke 2:8
When suddenly, the darkness broke.
Light, such that no human device can even mimic, shattered the darkness.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. Luke 2:9
Can our minds eye imagine what an angel of the Lord looks like?
I doubt it, but every time they show themselves mankind's response is fear.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10
What must be running through the minds of these men at this moment?
How can we even picture the surprise, relief, and wonder these men must have felt?
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
The children of Israel had been eagerly awaiting the Messiah for hundreds of years and now God was announcing His arrival!
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:13-14
These shepherds would have no way of knowing all that God would do from the moment of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Some of them may not have lived long enough to listen to His teachings or feel the healing touch of His hand.
It's most likely none of them were present at His trial nor beheld His bleeding body tortured and mocked and heard His strained voice declare, "It is finished!"
Yet, they did act upon the words declared unto them.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. Luke 2:15-17
These men may not have ever heard more about this baby in their life time, but they did hold the enormous blessing of being those who God chose to deliver the message to all those around that God's Savior had come as a tiny baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger.
It's easy to picture the enthusiasm of their story and the way in which they shared this great news to all who would listen.
May those of us who have the same blessed gift of knowing the Messiah never weary of sharing the truth of His salvation and the change He has made in our own lives.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:18
May we continue to spread the same wonder that those shepherds did as we share the truth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for coming as a tiny baby, growing up to be man and changing the world through Your sacrifice. Lord, thank You for Your love and blessings. Thank You for all Your wonderous works. I love You. Amen.
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