That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

Luke 2:8-14

Joy to the world, the Lord has come! This is the best news that the world has ever received. The revelation that Christ has come, in the flesh, is the basis of true joy! Have you ever wondered why the angel of the Lord would appear and deliver this news to shepherds, rather than kings, rabbis, or socialites? In that day, shepherds were near the bottom of the social ladder and were often lumped in with tax collectors and labeled “sinners,” yet God chose to share this news with them. You see, even in the birth of Jesus, God was establishing that His kingdom is not like ours. Jesus came to save sinners, not the self-righteous, so making this announcement to “sinners,” such as these shepherds, makes perfect sense. He delivered the best news the world has ever received to the people who needed it most, and He is still doing that today.

Prayer:

Thank You, Jesus, for coming to save us! You are the God who saves, and You are still saving today! I pray for those who do not yet know You. I pray that they would have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive the too-good-to-be-true news, that Jesus Christ has come to seek and save them! I thank You for opportunities to share this good news, just like the angel of the Lord did, with the people who need it most. Amen.