Luke 2: 8-19
verses 13-14: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
God sent the big fanfare news to the lowly shepherds. First the angel to let them know the facts, and then a “great company of the heavenly host”. Maybe he was making sure to convince them the news was meant for them. Shepherds were not powerful or influential, but God wanted them to know first. Sometimes I do feel as if God’s grace and power is better served when it lands on someone else and not me. I don’t always make the most of what I know to be true about God and his gifts. God has made so much of himself and his plan known to us, to me. His gift of scripture is like a fountain that has no end. Heavenly Father, you speak to me even when I do not listen. You have power to give, to share, and it never ends. You comfort me and give me peace. In this world I am not important, but I am important to you. Amen
Becky, transforming
Luke 2:8-19 And God continues to reveal the birth of his son, but not to those we might expect. What a birth announcement. The glory of the Lord shone all around them and a great Company of the heavenly host appeared with the angels praising God. The shepherds were terrified. The greatest event In history has just happened and the announcement came to humble shepherds. So why was heaven's glory revealed to a bunch of unwanted and forgotten shepherds? While shepherds had once been held in high esteem among God's people, they had become unwanted, left out, and pushed to the side. They smelled like sheep. They slept on the ground. They didn't live in major cities. Their jobs m…
Luke 2:8-19 When we read the Shepherd’s story and visualize the scene, we seldom get to verses 17 and 18. The shepherds were not just amazed that everything was as the angels had told them, but they began to spread the word to everyone they saw. Did God know they would do this when he chose them to received the message? Why not the religious leaders who were supposedly waiting for a messiah. Did God know they might feel threatened by this news and keep it to themselves. We have this news and read it every year. Do we do as the Shepherds did? We might tell these stories to our families but we do not tell everyone we …
Luke 2: 8-19
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
The shepherds appear to be the first disciples of God. They spread the word about the birth of the Messiah. The people in the town of Bethlehem were too busy to hear or see the birth of Jesus. A group of unpretentious shepherds received the announcement of the birth of the Messiah and went to see him. God, the father of Jesus, announced the birth to common folks. People like us. What an honor to be chosen as a follower of Christ. Find…
Luke 2:17-18 - “When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.”
The first to know were also the first to share. These two verses describe God’s intention for all Christians. The shepherds as the first evangelists, got it just right. They made known what had been told them about this child. We, especially those of us of a certain age, have been told a great deal about Him. How much and how often do we share it with others?
Prayer - Son of God, love’s pure light, Your birth and life among us is the Good News I must share…