Merry Christmas Saints & Friends,
​Weary and worn, having traveled three or four days by way of donkey, Joseph and a very pregnant Mary finally reached the village of Bethlehem. Finding no place to rest among the people, they bedded down with some animals. Joseph gathered together some hay and straw to provide comfort and cushion for Mary. Then he gently helped her to lie down and covered her with their half-worn blanket.
​As the animals slept, each making their own peculiar sound, Mary was heard to say, “Joseph, Joseph, I think it’s time, Joseph!” And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 Imagine that, the creator of the universe coming to earth, as a helpless babe being born among the animals and laid in a feeding trough. After the physical experience of giving birth, nearly everyone was ready to hit the hay, literally, even the bleating ewe who thought she was the birthing coach. But the respite would not last long. We find that there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12 ​Then, the angels went joyfully back to heaven to see what God would have them to do next. In the meantime, one shepherd said to the other shepherds, “Hey guys, did you see what I saw?” “We sure did!” “I have fought off wild animals from attacking my sheep, but I was never more frightened than when that angel appeared out of nowhere. And did you hear what I heard?” “Yes, we did!” As the shepherds looked at each other with amazement, they excitedly 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.” :15 ​So the shepherds left their flocks in the care of under-shepherds and they hurriedly went to Bethlehem to see the Babe Who would be the Savior, Christ the Lord. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. “Hey guys! Here He is!” “Hello,” said one of the shepherds to Joseph. “You’re not going to believe this, but my shepherd friends and I were out in the fields watching over our flocks by night, when a group of angels appeared to us. One of the angels said, ‘There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ Then the angel told us, ‘You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ So we came to see, and here you are! We’re going to tell everybody!” So the shepherds began to tell everyone what the angel had told them about the Savior being born in Bethlehem, and how they found Him just as the angel had said. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Through the shepherds, God gave Mary another affirmation and witness of His Son. Then the shepherds returned to their sheep, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Luke 2:20
​What an exciting time in the lives of Mary and Joseph. No doubt, they were wondering what God would be doing next. Their faith in Him was strong. What an exhilarating event in the lives of the shepherds. They, too, knew God had a plan. Praising Him and telling others about the Savior demonstrated their faith in Him.
Today, you may be feeling weary and worn by your circumstances, as Mary and Joseph were when they arrived in Bethlehem. Or you may be as excited as the shepherds when they encountered the Savior. Either way, you can know that God has a perfect plan for you, too. That plan begins when you trust in Jesus, Whose birth was announced to the shepherds. Whether you have been walking with Him for awhile, or today is your first step, He’ll be with you all the way! You can tell Him: ‘Jesus, thank You for paying for my sins with Your death and resurrection. I trust in You alone to save me forever. Fill me with Your joy every day! Amen.’