Luke 2:8-20
8*That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9*Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10*but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11*The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”
13*Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:
14* “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to all whom God favors.* ”
15*When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16*They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17*Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18*All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19*but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20*The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.
Probably all are familiar with this account on the birth of Jesus, many stories and commentaries have been done in reference to this passage.
I have an inspired thought on this passage that I would like to share. In meditating on this one day, I noticed something very unique and it caused me to wonder. Why did God choose to announce the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds and no one else? If it were me, I would have announced it to the most important of society, the King for one, and others who had major influence among the people like the pharisees. But instead God chose lowly shepherds. I was puzzled by God's decision and so I asked Him why. Here is His answer.
"Mike, the purpose of my announcement of the gift of my Son, the birth of the Christ was not to introduce Him to the world, that would come later. But rather to reveal my love for mankind through the understanding of the cost of such a gift. That is why I chose those shepherds that night, they could understand the cost. You see, they were caring for sheep and lambs, lambs who were inocent of evil, but would be slaughtered for the sins of others. So you see, they were very aware of the cost of attonement, and this is why I chose them. They worshipped me because they understood the cost and so the depth of my love was revealed to them. Behold the Spotless Lamb Of God."
So that is my little Christmas story, never has there been or ever will there be a gift given of more value and costliness than the gift of Jesus. So ponder this in your heart and go praising,worshipping and glorifing God!
8*That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9*Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10*but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11*The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”
13*Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:
14* “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to all whom God favors.* ”
15*When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16*They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17*Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18*All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19*but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20*The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.
Probably all are familiar with this account on the birth of Jesus, many stories and commentaries have been done in reference to this passage.
I have an inspired thought on this passage that I would like to share. In meditating on this one day, I noticed something very unique and it caused me to wonder. Why did God choose to announce the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds and no one else? If it were me, I would have announced it to the most important of society, the King for one, and others who had major influence among the people like the pharisees. But instead God chose lowly shepherds. I was puzzled by God's decision and so I asked Him why. Here is His answer.
"Mike, the purpose of my announcement of the gift of my Son, the birth of the Christ was not to introduce Him to the world, that would come later. But rather to reveal my love for mankind through the understanding of the cost of such a gift. That is why I chose those shepherds that night, they could understand the cost. You see, they were caring for sheep and lambs, lambs who were inocent of evil, but would be slaughtered for the sins of others. So you see, they were very aware of the cost of attonement, and this is why I chose them. They worshipped me because they understood the cost and so the depth of my love was revealed to them. Behold the Spotless Lamb Of God."
So that is my little Christmas story, never has there been or ever will there be a gift given of more value and costliness than the gift of Jesus. So ponder this in your heart and go praising,worshipping and glorifing God!
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