December 2, 2015 – Luke 2:8-9

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. Luke 2:8-9Can you imagine what you would do if an angel appeared to you during the night?  I know that I would feel the same as the shepherds and be afraid.  You just don’t see angels in the sky.  In our minds, the stars and the moon are all that should be visible in the night sky.  If the angel appeared with the good news of the birth of Jesus, the King, why would the angel tell the shepherds, who could do nothing extraordinary for Jesus???  All they could do is worship the Christ Child.The first thing the angel said to the shepherds is “Fear not!”    The ‘at the scenes’ reporter was not there to do a story on the shepherds’ fear of the angel.  The shepherds’ fear is the beginning of their understanding and wisdom.  For they worshiped the Babe.  In their hearts they knew that Jesus is the Christ – born in the city of David.  David, a man after God’s own heart, who as a boy was a shepherd, too.Just as the shepherds chose to go see the new babe, and the wise men chose to travel a great distance to worship the baby, we have a choice to make.  Will we worship Him with our whole hearts, or will we cast stones at his deity.  Our puny effort to deny Jesus doesn’t change anything.  He IS the Christ the Lord forever.And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10 – 12