Imagine That Night – Sunday Thought For The Day

Imagine how special the moment must have been the night the angel of the Lord announced the birth of Christ Jesus, as the heavenly host rejoiced, and praised God at the conclusion of the announcement of the Christ Child’s birth.

Try to imagine what it must have been like for the shepherds who first received the announcement of the birth of Messiah.  The words or as some believe the lyrics of the heavenly host singing out: “…on earth peace, good will toward men” are what Bengel in his commentary of the New Testament called, “a glorious appellation.”

Think what it must have been like as a lonely gathering of shepherds keeping watch over their flocks of sheep in the dark of night, had their space suddenly invaded by “the angel of the Lord” who was sent bearing the message righteous men had long awaited to witness.

The Apostle Luke tells us that: “The angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

It was an announcement given in the dark of night to shepherds in the field watching their flock(s).  It wasn’t commercially produced for big box stores or special “holiday” sales.  It was an announcement delivered by the angel of the Lord and it was one of “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

We don’t need a special store membership card to have the gift born that night.  We need only by faith confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, to receive salvation.s

As we approach the day we celebrate as the day of our Messiah’s birth, let us also draw closer to Him.  Let us spend more time reflecting upon the annoucement of that night some two thousand years ago and what it means for all mankind.

Personally, I love Christmas, because I love Jesus Christ.  It is the day we celebrate as my Savior’s birth.  I know there are those who refuse to celebrate Christmas, because as they say: It isn’t the day Messiah was born.  To which, I ask: What day was He born?  What day should we celebrate as the birth of Christ?

I am grateful every day for the birth of my/our Lord and Savior, my/our Messiah.  But, I am also grateful we have set aside one day in particular to celebrate as His birth.  In my opinion that day could have been July 1st or January 29th, in which case I would celebrate the day with the same reverence and joy as I do being fully aware that He wasn’t born on December 25th.

READ:

Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.