The shepherds' Christmas

Luke 2:8-20

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

The shepherds:

1. Heard the glorious message fearfully: "they were greatly afraid" (vs 9)
   
2. Sought the Incarnate God hastily: "they came with haste and found ... the Babe lying in a manger" (vs 16)
   
3. Heralded the evangel extensively: "they made widely known the saying which was told them" (vs 17)
   
4. Worshiped the Savior continually: "the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen" (vs 20)
   

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Merry Christmas

Dear friends,

We rejoice in God's graciousness to us. We are worshiping our Savior with our brothers and sisters at Fourth Baptist church. Kathee will be making lasagna on Christmas Eve to enjoy after the vespers service at Fourth Baptist. Christmas Day our family will celebrate Christmas with us at our home in Plymouth.

True meaning and purpose in life only comes through knowing and living for the Savior. We trust that the great gift that the shepherds found that first Christmas morning will be discovered by you as well.

Here is that gift: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)