November 27, 2017 – Luke 2:13-14
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:13-14
This morning the skies were alight with pink clouds. Our eyes are drawn to the sky through the array of color we find there. Have you any idea what it would be like to see the armies of heaven — angels — filling the sky?
The message they brought — of Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased — had never been heard before in the skies. The only audience the angels had were the shepherds. The shepherds, caring for sheep had never seen more than star light in the night sky, are the ones who heard the message. What did they do? They wanted to see this thing that had happened.
When we read the whole of Luke 2, is this just a pretty story of a baby and angels? Or is is enough to begin us thinking about the birth of Jesus, the birth that changed everything in the world? Do we shrug our shoulders, and turn away? What pleases God? Why should we want to please God? “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17. Jesus is our gift, our Gift of Life and Love. Will we open the gift, or ignore it for an easier pathway?
To please God, we will say, “Let’s learn more about this Gift God has given us!” How? Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15