Getting good news when you’ve been waiting to hear it — is such a relief isn’t it? It’s as if you’ve been holding your breath and you can suddenly breathe again. The greatest message of good news we can receive is that God sent us a Rescuer. For those who were stuck in silence and darkness, a light is dawning. And that light brings salvation and joy to a world that has been waiting in pain and silence.
Today we see the Good News pronounced to a group of lowly shepherds just going about the mundane task of guarding their flocks. They were overlooked, on the fringe of society. They cared and protected and provided for vulnerable sheep. Maybe even sheep that would one day be included in the temple sacrifices as the ones chosen to be the blameless sacrifice. It is against this backdrop that the night sky holds a star pointing the way to the greatest news we could ever hope for. News that would not just be reserved for the elite or the religious. It’s news for the whole world! For the nobodies and the somebodies.
Remember: Luke 2:8-10
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” - Luke 2:8-10
Shepherds were the first to hear the announcement that a Savior has been born in Bethlehem for THEM, for the whole world! What joy and wonder must have filled their hearts when they were startled by a whole host of heavenly beings lighting up the night sky, as they were just minding their own business taking care of sheep out in the field. God came to them in their lowly state. Just like God came to us in the lowly state of a baby in a manger, this is something to marvel at. I think we often overlook the story because it is so familiar.
Reflect
In your season of waiting, have you ever witnessed a friend going through their own season of waiting, but then you witness them experiencing the relief and answer to prayer that they’ve been waiting for? And maybe you feel a little tinge of jealousy in that moment. They got what they have been longing for and you are still stuck in the waiting period. It’s hard to watch a friend get the answers to prayer that you’ve been yearning for isn’t it?
The shepherds have probably been overlooked many times. But tonight was different. Tonight, they were the first to hear and the first to find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger — a King for all humanity. A King for them! A King for us!
This is the best news we could ever hope to hear! He came and entered our pain, experiencing it to the fullest, to rescue us from the pain caused by sin. Our lives are messy. He entered our mess. He is the answer. He is the Good News.
Respond
Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:
Breathe In:
Jesus, you are the Good News
Breathe Out:
I receive it with great joy.
The Journey
This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.
