“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. 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.’”

Luke 2:8-11

God’s encouragement…

This night began like a thousand others night. Shepherds out in the darkness keeping watch, listening for sounds that would stir them into action to protect their flock. But this night God had something different in store for them. He gave them a front row seat to a world-changing event that turned them into heralds of the birth of our Savior.

At first, they were afraid of the glory that shown around them. To calm their fears the angel spoke, “Fear not.” Then the angel told them the good news of great joy! The angel’s message isn’t only for their ears, it is a message for all people. This is true today as it was on that glorious night. In Luke 2:15-20, we learn that the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem and see for themselves if there was a baby in a manger. There was! They told Mary and Joseph what the angel had said to them. They told others, too, who wondered at their words. When they returned to their flock, they glorified and praised God.

The shepherds provide us with our very first eye-witness account of Jesus! Their descendants live among us today, descendants through ancestry and descendants through faith. For those who believe, it’s our turn to be the heralds of their message.

In truth, I, too, wonder at the words of the shepherds. I feel fear when my soul experiences even a glimpse of the glory of the Lord. I am thankful when I hear the words, “Fear not.” I have taken a journey to “see this thing that has happened, that the Lord has made known,” not by traveling to Bethlehem but through the prophesies and eye-witness accounts of Jesus found in the scriptures. Through all these faithful witnesses, God has given me the miracle of belief! He promises to do the same for you! Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:8-20

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. 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.” 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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Image: original color pencil and pastel drawing “Glory to the Lord” by Robin Lybeck