One day this week I got my Bible and read the Christmas Story from the second chapter of Luke.

And then I started thinking about what that night would have been like from a shepherd’s point of view.

Can you imagine?

A quiet night out in the field watching my sheep when suddenly a host of angels appear out of nowhere proclaiming the good news that a Savior has been born.

Talk about a shock.

It wasn’t a complete surprise, however, because the people knew the Messiah was coming. They just didn’t know when.

They were waiting for the day.

Have you ever noticed that God requires His children to do a lot of waiting?

Waiting is a very hard thing to do.

We are a people who want things to happen now. But many times God requires us to wait.

The shepherds were waiting and on that night they had no idea what was about to happen.

They were just out in the fields, like they were every night, keeping watch over their flock.

And then it happened.

An angel of the Lord appears to them and says:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12

Then a whole host of angels appear and start praising God and saying:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14

The time had come! The Savior was here! And it was time to go meet Him.

The shepherds hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger.

Afterwards they went all over the town of Bethlehem telling everyone they saw that the Savior had been born!

And then they returned to the fields praising God for all they had heard and seen.

What a night!

When thinking of the Christmas Story you can’t ignore the humility written in every detail of what happened that night.

The King of the World born in a stable and laid to rest where nasty stable animals chow down every day?

Shepherds, the lowest people of society, were told the good news by angels from Heaven?

Shepherds were some of the first to visit Jesus in the stable?

And it was the shepherds who got the privilege of bringing the good news to the people of Bethlehem?

YES!

Jesus came to the world in a very humble way and the shepherds played a huge role in that glorious night.

It was the start of God’s marvelous plan to save His people from an eternal death.

It was the start of God’s master plan to bring LOVE, HOPE and JOY to a troubled world.

It was God’s plan for an abundant life for you and me.

God said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

God’s perfect plan to overcome the world (sin) began on Christmas.

Joy to the World, the Lord has come!

- Elaine