Dec 24

Good News

"And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" And suddenly, there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."" Luke 2:10-14

On that night over 2000 years ago, some lowly shepherds were watching their flocks by night. Suddenly out of nowhere came an angel bringing them the good news of Jesus' birth. Later, a multitude of heavenly hosts, an army of angels, appears praising God. The Greek word used in this text for "hosts" is a military term and refers to an army. Armies usually are sent to declare war, but this army was sent to herald peace. God's angelic army was sent to declare to the world that peace would come through a tiny baby lying in a manger. We often focus on the shepherds in this passage and their reaction, but have you ever stopped to think about what the angels were feeling that night? They had been watching mankind for thousands of years. They had witnessed sin taking hold of man's heart and seen their downward spiral. They knew God had a plan for mankind's redemption and today was the first step of that redemption. The Scripture says they were full of joy at the prospect. How they must have sung! The sound of joy that army of angels must have made must have been glorious! The shepherds must have been in awe at the praises of the angels as their song rose to pay tribute to the God of the Universe for the gift of His Son.

 Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son! We praise you for the gift and what it cost you. Thank you for the example of your angels. May we view the Christ child with the same awe that they did and worship you with our whole beings for the gift that you bestowed upon us that Silent Night so long ago. We thank you for the joy that entered the world that night and we ask that the joy might live on in our hearts. Amen