Everyone has a different way they receive love from others. For some, love is perceived as sharing a delicious home-cooked meal at a friend’s house, for others it’s an agreed upon splurge purchase with the family credit card. For me, I feel loved when my friends invite me to share part of their day. It can be as simple as helping my friend weed their garden, allowing us to have a conversation while we pull weeds. Just welcome and include me.
When I think of Advent, I remember that one of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is the Angel’s annunciation of Christ’s birth to the shepherds in the fields. God included them in the events of that incredible night.
Luke 2:8-15 TPT
“That night, in a field near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God. And the shepherds were terrified!”
Shepherds belonged to the lowest working class, which was due, at least in part, to the poverty associated with their humble vocation. They learned to live and work on the outskirts of town and community. It must have been a lonely life. God knew His announcement would be a shock, considering the limited nature of the shepherds’ understanding, and He sent His angel to mercifully prepare them. Out of God’s infinitely abundant love, they received a calming message with the wonderful news of the arrival of Jesus, our Savior.
“…the angel reassured them, saying, ‘Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!’”
Because the joyous news was for all people, God included the shepherds, and brought the announcement to them by special delivery! They were not left out. Their presence at the stable was evidence that Jesus’ birth was for every human being, no matter their station in life. Even the lowly shepherds were on God’s invitation list.
“Then all at once, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing: ‘Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven!
For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.’”
Since the candlelight Christmas services of my childhood, I’ve enjoyed imagining what this part of the story looked like. The Message version phrases it as “a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises.” In my mind I can “see” the golden light of God’s Glory surrounding the angels as they floated, flew, or maybe even danced to the sound of their praise songs to God! The image of the golden light against the deep blue of the night sky must have been a breath-taking sight! And God gave this spectacular experience to the shepherds!
“When the choir of angels disappeared back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
‘Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word that is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.’”
After a lifetime of feeling shunned and excluded, the shepherds lost their inhibitions long enough to want to see the great event with their own eyes. God’s redemptive love and mercy gave the shepherds a place in history. We do not know their names, but their mention in the biblical account of Christ’s birth has been read by a countless number of people for over two thousand years. God saw to it they were not forgotten. I am so very thankful for this further evidence of God’s eternal and inclusive love.
I think this story remains one of my favorites because it reminds me how our God sees us and includes us all in His gift of redemption. And our loving Lord also gives us an endless amount of opportunities for renewal by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
About the Author
Sara has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”