THEY PRACTICE, THEY INFORM, THEY OBEY

THE ANGELS PRACTICE

The choir director said, “No.  No.  No.  How many times do we have to go over this?  It must be perfect.  It must be exactly as written!”

“It is not ‘Listen up.  I have something to tell you.’  The time is getting closer and you have a very important job,” she continued.  “Do I need to go talk with Archangel Michael?”

One angel replied, “Do not disturb him.  Besides he is a bit upset with me anyway.  Seems he did not appreciate the drum solo in the middle of prayers……May I try again?”

Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

The choir director turned to the choir, “Then you will join in.  And remember, in unison, – you only have one chance to get it right.  This is our last practice.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

THE ANGELS INFORM

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

Please remember this was a long before the countryside was covered with dusk-dawn lights.  The shepherds might have had a fire going and a couple of lamps but it would have been dark.  They would have been able to see the stars.  They might have been talking quietly or maybe the only sound was the sheep. 

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. 

“What?  The light is so bright I cannot see where it is coming from.  The sheep….” shouted the frightened shepherds.

The choir director smiled when she heard, “Fear not:…...“  All that practice paid off.  The Angels nailed it!  The shepherds were no longer afraid and their job was completed.

THE SHEPHERDS OBEY

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven,

Dark, light, dark.  I bet their eyes were having trouble adjusting back to the darkness.  I would have loved to hear the conversation after the angels left. 

• Was I dreaming?
• Well, if you were dreaming, we all had the same dream.
• I have never seen a light like that.
• Well, duh!  It was the Glory of the Lord.  Nothing else can be that bright!
• What did you hear?

the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

THEY PRACTICE, THEY INFORM, THEY OBEY

Yes, I have a vivid imagination and, yes, I picture the angels practicing.  This night was important.  Everything was in place and the angels were ready.

The angels had a message to deliver.  A very specific message.  Not your usual birth announcement.  This baby was our SAVIOUR.  This baby was CHRIST THE LORD.  The pressure to make every word heard and understood was a big responsibility.

I often feel sorry for the shepherds.  There they were, doing their job, watching the sheep, eyes adjusted to the dark, when WHAM – well, no wonder they were scared.  They probably thought they were going to die.  How would an angel’s voice sound?  Could they comprehend what they heard?   

fear not.. good tidings…great joy…to all people

And that is exactly what I want you to do this week:  comprehend those words.

This week enjoy the preparation of Christmas but take time to be a shepherd.  Go to a dark room, sit there, think about your sheep (those you care about), listen for their voices, and allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.  Then turn the lights on.  WHAM!  Your eyes – your whole being – will be out of whack.  Your brain has to regroup. 

Multiply that feeling by a lot because there were angels involved.  Then hear the words fear not.  Take a deep breath.  Let it out.  Ready?

Place yourself in that field, surrounded by a light like you have never seen before.  Brighter than the lights at the Super Bowl. 

Here is the exciting part.  It is time to open the door and realize what just happened. 

The good tidings are for YOU!

The great joy is for YOU!

The Saviour born that day in the city of David, which is Christ the Lord, was born for YOU!

This birth was for you.  And me.  And them.  And her.  And him.  And all people. 

Now be a good shepherd and go tell someone.

(Scriptures taken from Luke 2:8-18)