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14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14 KJV
The Night He Came (Click for MP3 Audio file)
The night He came changed everything. Absolutely nothing remained the same and never would return to what it was before.
But let’s start at the beginning of the journey, before this night of nights…
The couple traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay their taxes in the man’s birthplace. It was Caesar’s decree after all.
It was terribly crowded in the town with so many others doing the same, and the only lodgings to be found were in a stable. Desperate for shelter and privacy, no matter how humble, that secondhand stable became the birthplace of the Child born that night. The child Jesus. The Son of God.
Prophesy was fulfilled in that place, on that night of nights. That night of miracles.
That night changed the universes.
It changed this earth, all history, and all humanity. You. Me.
That night there were shepherds watching over the sheep. Humble men, poor men, simple men, perhaps lonely, cold men that night when an angel appeared in the night sky.
An Angel telling shepherds that they should not be afraid, as they cowered and shook and hid and pointed at this sight beyond comprehension.
They willed their limbs to stop quaking and listened in awe at Angel’s words of JOY to All people.
Words of a Child that had been born who was Savior, Who was Christ, Who was Lord, Who was yet a Baby wrapped in simple cloth and resting in the farm animals’ manger.
Then, the Heavens rend with the sound of many, many angels praising God Almighty.
The shepherds no doubt are prone by now and amazed and dazed and terrified and hopeful and wondering and awed and unsure they decide to go to see if this is true.
They GO to Bethlehem. They seek.
They FIND Him.
Can you imagine that sight?
No, we really can’t.
There are only glimpses we have during prayer. During the times we commune with God with all of our hearts, we can imagine this moment only in part.
They WORSHIP Him.
The core of their being realizes Who this is and worship flows from their souls like lifeblood. How could they Not worship Him?
They PRAISE God.
Thankfulness wells up in rivers of joy. Perhaps they give Him what they have in homage and love. A lamb. A piece of fruit. A warm cloth. More likely they fall beside the Child in tears, realizing they have nothing but love and gratitude to offer. Understanding, it is enough.
Perhaps they understand, in factional amount, the difference this night of God with man will make.
Then, they slip away into the night to TELL. No longer cold and no longer merely shepherds, but changed men forever that have seen God in the flesh. Men who have experienced Emmanuel. God with us. God in us. God here.
The JOY OF JESUS spills over from their hearts and they tell ABROAD what was told them. It was too good to keep. They praised God and glorified God and shared the excitement!!
It was to be shared everywhere, with everyone! No quiet about it! Telling, shouting, shocked joy recounting! What NEWS they had!!! Like no other news the world had ever heard!!
We are to GIVE to others what God has given us. It made the hearers Wonder and perhaps seek Him too. The shepherds’ excitement was contagious.
We too are the Shepherds.
We have heard the angels’ message in our hearts and found HIM as our Savior!!…and it is now OUR time to turn from the wondrous sight and step back into the cold and SHARE CHRIST WITH THE WORLD!!
May God bless you as you do.
The Night He Came (Click for MP3 Audio file)
2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, goodwill toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:1-20 KJV