Oh What a Glorious Night

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.  Luke 2:9

There they were, minding their own business.  A night like all others, tending sheep, keeping watch.  Most likely the shepherds had been there for a while.  They weren’t expecting anything different.  The news had not reported unexplained sightings or the prediction of an event that only a few would witness.  They were probably speaking softly not wanting to scare the sheep.  I imagine they were talking of unimportant things or joking among themselves doing their best to pass the time and stay alert in the night.  In a moment their lives would change.  One minute talking among friends and the next a concert from a heavenly choir. A birth announcement extraordinaire!  However, the moment of change had not happened yet.  They were excited, joyful and even curious about what God had made know to them.  They even “ran” to find Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. 

And when they had seen it…Luke 2:17 identifies the moment of change. They now could not contain what was burning inside them!  They had seen HIM! They couldn’t keep it to themselves, Luke says, “they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”  A moment with Jesus is a moment of change.  We aren’t who we were and the news we have to share is for the world and with it will bring change.

Are you returning as the shepherd, “glorifying and praising God”?  Thank you, Lord for that Glorious Night and my moment of change.

Pastor Julia Scott