Merry Christmas

I have wanted to write a blog this entire season, but as always, I have been caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. This evening, Christmas Eve, I finally have a chance to write something. We all have heard the Christmas Story of God coming to live among us because he loved us SO much. The story is told everytime this year. I have always loved the Christmas Story, however, God pointed some things out to me in the story this year. The Shepherds. They are a major part of the Christmas story. The shepherds were the first ones to hear about the birth of Jesus. God could have chosen to reveal this to anyone, including kings, royalty, religious leaders, etc. Instead he chose shepherds. Why would anyone think this part is so important? Well, during the time when Jesus was born being a shepherd was a job no one wanted. To put it into modern day times, it would be like having a job that required you to be comitted to it 24 hours a day and live in the fields. To put it bluntly, no one wanted to be a shepherd. These guys were around sheep daily, they were smelly, had no families, and were considered to be the low man on the career ladder totem pole. Yet, these were the guys that God chose to first hear the news. In my mind, I imagine the scene to be like nothing out of the ordinary for these guys. Most of them were probably sitting around a fire keeping an eye out for any wild animal that wanted to take the sheep. Then, imagine if you could, an angel appearing and the Bible says the glory of the Lord shone around them. In my mind it seems that there was probably a bright light and then an angel suddenly appearing. Who wouldn't be afraid of that? Its the middle of the night and then all of the sudden there is a bright light with a strange being. That's terrifying! The next verse I love, in the book of Luke it says "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people'." Isn't it amazing that God knew these shepherds would be afraid and that was not the message he wanted to send. I couldn't imagine having an angel deliver a message to me that was a direct part of God's unfailing love. Once the angel delivered his message, the Bible says heavenly host appeared and praised God. How cool would it have been to seen this birth announcement! The shepherds knew this was something worth looking into. They've spent numerous nights in the fields and had never experienced anything like this. Once they saw what the angels had told them, the shepherds told everyone what they had seen and experienced. They were not afraid of doing so! It makes you think why would God choose to reveal this wonderful announcement to the shepherds and not the religous leaders? God didn't come to just save the religous people. He came for us all! No matter what we've done, said, or how we might behave. He loves us so much that He sent his Son to die for us! When you think about this and just apply it to yourself it becomes unreal to think he would love me this much! As you enjoy the Christmas season, just remember the shepherds were the first to hear the wonderful news and that they told EVERYONE what they had seen and heard. God loved us so much, he sent his only Son for us all! Even for those that may have a job that no one of us would ever consider taking. Merry Christmas!!