NO ORDINARY NIGHT

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "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."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:8-20

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Imagine that you are a shepherd. You are living in the fields tending to your flock as you always do because that’s your job…to look after the sheep.

While looking after the sheep, you make sure they stay together in their flock because you know a stray sheep can face great danger. For there are predators who would easily attack and kill a stray sheep if given the opportunity. A stray sheep would be easy prey.

And then there are the thieves who roam the countryside looking to make a quick profit from someone else’s flock. All they need is an opportunity to steal…and a stray, unprotected sheep is an easy mark.

There’s also danger in the terrain for a stray sheep. For many cliffs and holes exist that a sheep could easily fall into…sometimes to death. It’s not good for a sheep to be walking about without their leader…and you are that leader as the shepherd.

Indeed, you are the leader of the flock. You move the sheep from pasture to pasture, always ensuring they have plenty to graze so they are healthy and able to produce the valuable wool in demand by so many. Yes…the sheep in your care were valuable money makers and so it was absolutely paramount that they get only the best care. And they got it from you, their shepherd, because that’s what a good shepherd does….always cares for the sheep…always protects the sheep…always rescues a sheep in need. The sheep are blessed because of the love and care you provide day after day after day.

Through the daily grind of being a shepherd, you have spent countless days and nights in the fields. It was routine for you with every day and night rather ordinary. But then one night came where things were anything but ordinary. In fact, what happened was so amazing you don’t know if anyone would ever believe it if you told them.

For while you were in the field, all of a sudden an “angel of the Lord appeared” to you and the shepherds who were with you. The magnificent appearance lit up the night sky as the angels were brilliantly shining. You found yourself more than a little scared about what was taking place. “Why was this happening?” you thought.

But then the angel spoke to you and your fellow shepherds saying, “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." And no more had he finished speaking that the angel was joined by others who were praising God while proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." And then just as suddenly as they had come, the angels left and went up into heaven.

You just stood there in amazement and awe with your fellow shepherds…such was the magnificent nature of what you had witnessed. This was no ordinary night…not by a long shot. In fact, there had been no night even close to this one…and as you would discover later, no night would ever rival it…ever.

As you stood there, some of your fellow shepherds said, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." And so you did. You went to Bethlehem and discovered a couple named Joseph and Mary, who had just delivered a baby…a baby who was now “lying in the manger”. This was the child the angel spoke of…the Savior who was Christ the Lord. You knew of a Messiah that had been prophesied from the days of old. And now, this Savior…this Messiah had come.

You and your shepherds decided that others needed to hear the news…Christ the Savior has been born in Bethlehem. This was a time to rejoice and be glad! And so you went out from the manger and “spread the word concerning what had been told…about this child”. Everyone you told “were amazed” at what they heard. And after you told all you could tell, you returned to the fields…the ordinary fields you would normally work in with the flock…but you were in no way the same person. No, you and your fellow shepherds “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things” you had witnessed.

Yes, Christ had come…born in a manger in Bethlehem on an extraordinary night…and nothing would ever be ordinary again.

Now, let’s get back to reality. You probably aren’t really a shepherd, at least in a literal sense. No, you have another vocation…something else that the Lord has blessed you with to do. But there is something that you share in common with the shepherds of old. For you can find yourself in a daily routine…carrying out the same responsibilities day after day. Your life, like the shepherds, can seem pretty ordinary most of the time…maybe even on Christmas Eve. But this night, just as it was in the days of the shepherds watching over their flocks, is anything but ordinary.

For the angels that brought the message to the shepherds is bringing the same message to the world today:

“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."

Yes…Christ the Savior is born in a manger in Bethlehem this extraordinary night. The shepherds couldn’t wait to go and find their Savior…and when they did, they were changed forever, unable to wait to tell everyone else about Him.

Question: How are you feeling this Christmas Eve? Are you filled with the excitement of the coming Savior? Are you so thrilled about the blessed Babe lying in that lowly Bethlehem manger that you can’t wait to tell others about Him?

Friends, Christ’s coming changed everything. The ordinary was no longer ordinary but would be forever extraordinary. And so it was with the lives of all those that Jesus touched…not only on that night in Bethlehem but today and forever more as well. Let Him touch your heart this night and embrace the real reason for the season, sharing the good news with others.

For Christ is born in Bethlehem! Alleluia! Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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