December 26
Luke 2:8-20 (NKJV) Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 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, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
I really love that God chose to announce His only Begotten Son’s birth to shepherds first. These shepherds were “living out in the fields”. They were not the wealthiest people; they were also not in the most sought after job position. What are your thoughts about God’s choice?
We have seen a lot of encounters where an angel appeared to a human…but here it also adds that “the glory of the Lord shone around them”. After the angel gave the news and what the sign was to be ~ it says, “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, goodwill toward men!” It was not just one angel that came down for this announcement…but a multitude of heavenly host.
I love that, after the angel and multitude of heavenly host leave, the shepherds make haste to see this Babe that they are told about in such a dramatic and fabulous way. They make it all known and all marvel. “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”
Oh my gravy, what a night they had! I would be on cloud nine for years from that experience…it would consume my thoughts…how amazing to even try and imagine it all! I can be pretty creative in my day-dreams, and I still think that even what I imagine can’t compare with what really happened…I don’t think Hollywood could even come close to illustrating this scene…what do you think? Can you even imagine this majestic scene? Glory to God in the highest!!
Merry Christmas ~ Laurie Kay
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