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.”They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. Luke 2:15-19 (NLT)
It's the most wonderful time of the year!, as one Christmas song says. What really makes this Christmas season wonderful? The frantic madness of going around endlessly hunting for items marketers are hinting? Seeing and checking things out there somewhere that might satisfy emptiness deep within? Hurrying, sometimes not really knowing what we're pursuing? Then at the end of the day there is that moment, wondering, sighing, the emptiness, darkness still gripping.
That first Christmas night, the angel appeared to the unexpecting shepherds. During the time of the Lord Jesus, the shepherds were at the lowest level of Palestinian social ladder. They were marginalized by society. They were valued less. In the midst of their dark night, literally and figuratively, the Almighty God chose to tell them first about the Good News of the Savior's birth, words of hope, of good tidings of comfort and joy.
In our generation, at this present time, with all the glitters we see during Christmas season, there are some who feel down and lonely, hopeless. The good news is that the same message the shepherds heard is still here ringing. When we hear it, do we choose to go where God tells us to go? Do we want to see what He wants us to see? His gift of love lying in a manger, His One and Only Son, the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord! Where do we hurry to go? The light of the Lord Jesus appearing that night is still shining to us these days. "Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 (NLT). What wonderful words!
Truly this is the most wonderful time as we remember, reflect and run to God's wonderful presence of light and peace. Just as the shepherds did, let's go and see and hurry to what the Lord has told us about! As we do, we will have our own astonishing stories to tell!
The Lord Jesus is waiting in the mangers of our hearts.
