"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 of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ 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,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
This week Dr. Rummage preached on the gifts Jesus Brings to Everyone:
1) Jesus Bring us a Glory to Encounter (vs. 14)
2) Jesus Brings us a Peace to Enter Us (vs. 14)
3) Jesus Brings a Message to Explain (vs. 15-20)
Why do we never think about the Glory of the Lord at Christmas? Here in this passage the glory of the Lord shined all around them. Can you image the glory of the Lord shining around you? Dr. Rummage explained that the Hebrew word for glory is "kabod" which means heavy and the Greek word is "doxo" meaning light. It was the radiant shinning light of God's glory that was present at our Savior's birth.
Isaiah 6: 1-3 states:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
Wow can you imagine the entire earth being full of God's glory? Additionally, Jesus brings us a peace with God. When we accept Jesus we are no longer an enemy of God. A peace comes over us as well when we learn to trust him completely by praying and turning all of our troubles over to him. However, peace here on earth will not be accomplished until Jesus finally comes back.
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