“9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 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.”
There’s nothing I love more than to be able to step outside on a dark night and watch the sky light up with millions of stars. There’s something about seeing the vastness of the universe that God created that ties in with a feeling of such awe and wonder.
On that starry night so many centuries ago, when shepherds tended to their flock, I can only imagine the scene before them, the brightest star shining in the clear night sky, even before the angels appeared.
And, how good is our God? He knows we’re so prone to fear as our first emotion, that His angels first words were, “Do not be afraid…” If only we could count on an angel showing up every time we feel afraid to remind us of God’s goodness and his faithfulness and that we needn’t be afraid.
The angels appeared singing praises to the Lord and announcing the birth of Jesus Christ, Messiah, Our Savior. What a heavenly sight to see, the heavens lighting up, angels singing a glorious song of praise. A song of worship.
When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds knew deep down into their core that, in that moment, their lives had been forever changed. They couldn’t go back to tending to their sheep as if nothing had happened. It pushed them into immediate action. Luke 2:15 says, they went to Bethlehem to see what has happened.
When we encounter Jesus, we can’t go back to living our lives the way we used to and enjoy it the way we once did. That kind of encounter should spur us into action. It should result in change. God could’ve sent Jesus to earth in heavenly form, He could’ve been born in a palace surrounded by gold. But He wasn’t. He was born in a barn, laid in a manger. He took on the most humble form so that all might see and know they are worthy of the life He has to offer them.
Do you feel your past hinders you from a future with Jesus?
Do you feel that there’s no way He could use you or accept you because of where you come from, where you were born, how you’ve lived your life?
Friend, Jesus came that we might find freedom in Him. That we might encounter Him in a new way. If you are feeling lost, and as you’re reading this your heart is speeding up and you know that He’s the missing piece, I want to invite you to ask Him to come and change your life. Ask Him to show Himself to you. If you ask, He will. God wants to meet us right where we are at. There’s nothing too messy to keep Him from stepping into the mess with you and pulling you out.
Be Free friend!
xo, Alissa
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