“The Shepherds’ Story”

 “The Shepherds’ Story”

 

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph.  And there was the Baby, lying in the manger.  After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this Child.  All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.  Luke 2:16-19

 

The story about the birth of King Jesus, was in itself, quite MIRACULOUS, and very UNIQUE, so much so, that there has NEVER BEEN, in the HISTORY of MANKIND, another SUCH MIRACULOUS BIRTH.  As for as we know, NO OTHER young woman has been visited by an ANGEL, who informed them of such a MIRACULOUS BIRTH.  And that’s because ONLY ONE person would be, and has been born in SUCH a manner, which is the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  

 

I believe that it was a CHILLY, and VERY DARK night, when the Angel of the LORD GOD appeared in the star-studded, clear, evening sky.  And I believe it was LATE in the night.  And ALL, except maybe three or four of the shepherds, who were KEEPING WATCH over their flocks, were bedded down for a MUCH NEEDED rest.  And SUDDENLY a bright LIGHT, surrounded the three or four shepherds, who were WATCHING OVER the sheep.  And in front of them stood a BEING, clothed in a VERY BRIGH, WHITE garment, SO INTENSELY BRIGHT, that it hurt the eyes of the shepherds, who were trying to shield the LIGHT from their eyes.  Then the shepherds were TERRIFIED, but the Angel said:  “Don’t be afraid! I bring you GOOD NEWS that will bring GREAT JOY to ALL PEOPLE.  The SAVIOR—YES, the MESSIAH, the LORD—has been born TODAY, in Bethlehem, the City of DAVID!  And you will find Him by this sign:  You will find a BABY wrapped SNUGLY in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”  Then SUDDENLY, the Angel was joined by a VAST HOST of others—the Armies of Heaven—- PRAISING GOD and saying:  “GLORY to GOD in the HIGHEST HEAVEN, and PEACE ON EARTH to those with whom God is PLEASED.”

 

When the ANGELS had returned to HEAVEN, the shepherds were SO EXCITED, and IMMEDIATELY they headed to BETHLEHEM, to find this SPECIAL BABY, who was the LONG AWAITED MESSIAH.   After they found the BABE, just like the Angel had told them, they KNEW that this was NO ORDINARY BABY.  And they BELIEVED what the ANGEL had told them.   So, they TOLD EVERYONE they met, what had HAPPENED to them and about this SPECIAL BABY.  And ALL who HEARD the SHEPHERDS’ STORY were ASTONISHED, but MARY , kept ALL these things in her HEART and THOUGHT about them OFTEN.   

 

And the shepherds went back to their flocks and to their work, but MUCH DIFFERENT than before the ANGEL’S MESSAGE to them, and they GLORIFIED and PRAISED GOD for ALL they had HEARD and SEEN, because, it was JUST AS the ANGEL had TOLD them.  Do you have a STORY that you can TELL, to OTHERS, to those who have NEVER TRULY ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, who came as a BABY, and He GREW into a MAN with a MISSION, to SAVE MANKIND from their SINS?  

 

It is OUR MISSION to do like those SHEPHERDS.  To GO and TELL others about JESUS, the ONLY HOPE for MANKIND to have an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, and to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  The STORY is:  YOU MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then, you MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION, and have your OWN STORY to TELL, of what has HAPPENED to YOU, because of what JESUS has done for YOU.  So, do this NOW, while you STILL CAN.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND.