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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 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 among those with whom he is pleased!"
I want you to imagine being out on a starry night in Minnesota. You're out camping and the sky is completely clear. Suddenly, in the sky, the army of heaven is screaming out the praises of God-- "glory to God in the highest!" Can you imagine? These angels are the soldiers of heaven and they are powerful, glorious, and awe-inspiring. And they are all screaming the praises of God.
Why? Why do these angels praise God? Is it just because they're angels and that's what angels do? Or what about you? What's your response to God? Is it fear like the shepherds were afraid or is it worship like how the angels were praising? Perhaps most importantly, why should we move from a place of fear to join with the angels this Christmas in worshiping God?
Listen to the words of the angel, first he says, "Do not be afraid." If you are reading this today and you feel like you have to be afraid in the presence of God, the angel says, "Don't be afraid!" Easier said than done. Some of us have been dealing with feelings of fear in God’s presence our whole lives because we don’t believe that we’re worthy of his love— our past is too dark, our present is too sinful. God is judge of the world, right? So why shouldn’t you be afraid? Because there is good news of great joy! This is not just "okay news." This is not the kind of news that scrolls past you on your news feed that you're like, "oh that's kind of interesting." This is not bad news for you either that bombards you every day, it's not the kind of news that you want to miss hearing. This is good news of great joy. This news is intended to give you great joy. And in case you think to yourself, "well, this news isn't for me, you don't know who I am or what I've done," the angel says that this is "good news of great joy which is for all the people!" This news is for everyone! It's for you no matter who you are or what you've done! This news of great joy is not just for church-folk, it's not for the "good people," it's for everyone! Don't exclude yourself from this good news because God doesn't!
Are you interested?
Here’s the good news: "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
First, there is born for you a Savior. God has finally come! The angel doesn't say, "Unto you is born this day a harsh judge, an angry dictator, or a powerless moral teacher." But, there is born to you "a Savior." And he has come, not into a life far-removed from suffering and hardship, He's born into your hardship and suffering. In the midst of all of the things that make tomorrow impossible for you or next week impossible for you or 2025 impossible for you, Jesus can say to you, "I know." Not just because He's seen your suffering but because He's experienced it! And He is Savior in every one of your situations-- not a savior from your situation, but in your situation.
This is why the angels praise God-- because God has so loved the world that He sent His precious Son to be your Savior. This is why you don't need to be afraid. This is why you should have great joy and praise God with the angels. Will you?
