shepherds-and-star

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”    
                                                                                                                                                                    ~ Luke 2:8-14

“OK, so here’s the plan,” says the Lord. “We’re not going to the religious leaders. We’re going right there.”

“Say WUUUUT?” Gabriel replied. “Those are smelly shepherds. And you know how the villagers look down on them. They’re so…so common.”

“Exactly,” God said.

“Oh, this’ll be fun. Let’s light ‘em up with all the fireworks,” Gabriel said, with a naughty snicker.

“Ha, ha, ha, ha,” laughed the Lord. “No…” He uttered, barely getting out the word from His bellowing cackling. “I’ll send YOU first. They’ll be shaking enough from that. THEN come the fireworks. The whole gang from Company C.”

“I LOVE it! When can I go?!”

“Now! Go now!,” the Lord said, excitedly.

~~~

Don’t you love it? God chose the “foolish things of the world to shame the wise” (1 Cor. 1:27), or the “common” folk. He chose shepherds to go see for themselves with front-row seats to be the first ones to see the Christ-child and spread the news!

And if that wasn’t enough, He chose a non-descript young teenage girl—a girl whose heart He fell in love with.

And a simple carpenter with such integrity that he didn’t leave his wife because everyone was just so convinced she had committed adultery.

And God chose a feeding trough in a stinky stable to place His only son in.

Simple.

Messy.

Common.

God chose. Because it gave Him great joy to give common people great joy.

This Christmas season, we are reminded that every instance of giving joy to an orphan overseas, a sexual-abuse victim, or a former prostitute is something that not only gives us—Pure & Faultless and our supporters—great joy, but it gives our Lord indescribable joy. He just loves to “light ‘em up” with His glory!

May you all have a very blessed and merry Christmas, for LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD!

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