Merry Christmas

He Has Come! Eternal God, the light of the world who created it has now invaded it. And he brought an army of angels beyond number with him. To our great relief, the army comes with a message of peace!

Luke 2:8-20 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (9) 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. (10) 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. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (15) 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.” (16) And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (17) And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. (18) And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. (19) But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

As the Lord emptied himself of glory, he came to be born in a cave and laid in a manger. He was not proclaimed in the palace of the king or worshipped in the temple, but out in the field he is announced to and receives the praise of the shepherds. .As the angel of the Lord appeared to them he calmed their fears at seeing him. He proclaimed the gospel news, the joyous news, today in the city David was born in was born a Savior. He is the Christ, the messiah. He is the Lord. The long awaited deliverer has come. The word has become flesh and is dwelling among you. Go look for this baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.

And suddenly the angels who had sung of the glory of the Lord all their existence, are reluctant to let God the Son leave the presence of their praise. They invade the dark sky with brilliance and worshipful praise. Glory to God in the highest! Peace! They proclaim peace. Can you believe it. Peace on earth among the rebels of God. He has come not to condemn them or destroy them, but to bring them peace and reconciliation. Glory! Glory to God in the highest!

And the shepherds went to experience this news personally. They wanted to see the Christ. They wanted to worship him and they wanted to proclaim this news for all the world to share in this glory. Oh, dear reader that you would draw near to the Lord. Go seek him out. He came in humble meekness. See him proclaimed in the pages of the scriptures and in the lives of his church. Worship him. Praise him. You were made to reflect back the glory of our great God. And dear reader let this praise be on your lips as you encounter others who are in desperate need of the same good and glorious news. Tell them of God in the flesh. He came not to kill his enemies but to die for them. He came, not to condemn them but to save them.

Merry Christmas!!!