Scripture to Read: Luke 2:8-9
This is Christmas week, and Luke 2 lays out for us the point of Christmas: there is Good News to proclaim and a Person to know. Today and tomorrow, we focus on the proclamation of Christmas. Three things are needed for a proclamation to be announced: an audience, a messenger, and a message. First, we are introduced to the audience who received the Good News concerning the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:8, "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." The first group of people told this Good News were lowly shepherds. These shepherds were told the news of Jesus's birth from an angel of the Lord. As the angel came to them, "the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear" (Luke 2:9). The shepherds were definitely afraid at first. So, here they are in the dark of night and an angel appears to them, and God's glory is shining around them. We can't even imagine what it would have been like, but it would have been awesome for sure. The shepherds were not the first to encounter an angel of the Lord and respond in fear (see Luke 1:11-12, 28-29). Yet, in each case, the angel tells those he's talking to not to be afraid (see Luke 1:13, 30). The angel of the Lord would give these shepherds Good News about the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, let's spend this week sharing the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ as well!
Challenge & Application
1. What do we learn about God as He shows us His humble and lowly coming and the announcement to lowly shepherds?
2. Who can you share the good news of the glory of the Lord with this week?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!