02
Terror & Joy
Tim Savage8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Luke 2
I just had to re-live Christmas one more time before jumping in to the new year. I relate to the shepherds – just plain folks who witnessed God’s glory through a host of heavenly angels singing and praising Him. The shepherds were both terrified and overjoyed at this supernatural experience, they weren’t sure what they would find when searching for the baby Jesus, but they just followed the directions given to them. God’s glory will overwhelm us because we don’t have any concept of His power and majesty, it is infinitely more than we can understand. We try to make sense of it through our very finite and limited lives, but omnipotence, omniscience and omni-prescence are so far beyond us.
The shepherds had the experience of seeing the angels, therefore they knew that they were in the midst of a supernatural event. They saw, therefore they believed. Most of us will never see something like that, therefore we must believe out of faith. Believing without seeing is difficult because of our limited brains; we want proof. But nothing is required of us, when something is proven with evidence. God leaves that last step of faith to us. His kingdom and power is available if we believe without seeing. Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” And John 20:29 says, “Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.’"
We are a generation of people who have the privilege of believing in our Lord and Savior without having actually seen Him. We know for certain He is God because of the evidence all around us. His love is proven by His protection and His provision. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11.
I am going to enjoy the warm feeling of Christmas for a little longer before diving in to the new year!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. It’s a gift that can never be repaid. We can only be grateful and love and follow You. Help me have strength in Your calling, to do the things that You would have me to do. I love You Lord.
In Jesus name,
Amen
