Savior: The Promise FulfilledSample

Giving Him the Glory

Imagine the bucolic scene of the shepherds watching their flocks at night. I´m sure they were expecting a quiet, even boring night. Then suddenly, the night is broken by light and an angel appears, telling them that the Messiah has come, that the Savior is born! And then, a choir of angels joins to give an anthem of praise. 

Have you ever wondered why an angel delivered this message to shepherds instead of breaking the news to priests or scribes, to someone more “important”? I love how Warren Wiersbe answers this question in his book “Be Compassionate” – 

“By visiting the shepherds, the angel revealed the grace of God toward mankind. Shepherds were really outcasts in Israel. He calls the poor and the lowly (Luke 1:51–53; 1 Cor. 1:26–29).

The Messiah came to be both the Good Shepherd (John 10) and the Lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of the world (John 1:29). Perhaps these shepherds were caring for the flocks that would provide sacrifices for the temple services. It was fitting that the good news about God’s Shepherd and Lamb be given first to humble shepherds.”

The angel interrupted the shepherds’ night just like one blessed and wonderful day interrupted my life. When the news of great joy was revealed to me, my life was forever changed. It is my prayer that I never forget my first love, that time of wonder when I first met my Savior, my Lord. 

Dear God, help me to never get used to the news of Your Son coming as a baby to save the whole world. Please, Father, continue to interrupt my life and make it exceptional, not because of who I am, but because of who You are. Amen. 

Mini challenge: Today, consider the missionaries who are all around the world preaching the Good News. They may be spending Christmas far away from family and love ones. Take a moment to pray for them and, if you know any missionaries, send a word of encouragement to let them know they are loved!