Scripture Saturday (Favorite Christmas Passage)

Hello friends(!), and welcome to another Scripture Saturday. Today I wanted to share my favorite Christmas themed Scripture with you!

It is one I am sure you have already heard this holiday season, but I have to admit, every time I hear it, it brings me peace and joy.

So, here it is:

“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 round them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you great 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

Does anybody else get a huge grin on their face when they read that?

Think about it:

You are a shepherd who is sitting in a field. You hear the sounds of crickets, the cool night air fills your lungs, and tiredness takes over your mind. You are sitting in darkness when suddenly the Heavens open before your very eyes!

It is so bright you have to squint! Fear quickens your heartbeat as you wonder what is happening! When you are finally able to glance up, you hear a strong, angelic voice that belongs to a strong angelic-like body!

“Do not be afraid,” you hear the angel say, “I bring you great news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

The angel goes onto tell you that the Messiah- the Savior has been born! The child whom you have prayed for and long desired for Him to come and rescue you from your misery and oppression is here. The Son of God has come!

Angelic voices, the same voices that speak and dwell in the presence of God every day, echo through the night sky proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Peace, friends, peace. We have peace because our Savior has come. We are made right with God, because our Prince of Peace has come (Romans 5:1-2).

What a passage of Scripture.

How I wonder what it would have been like to witness this night in history! How I long for the day when I, too, will get to sing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven.”

Until then, we are tasked with the same responsibility that the shepherds went and carried out that night:

“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning all that had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” – Luke 2:17-18

That is right. The shepherds didn’t keep all the awe and wonder to themselves. They went and shared it with everyone else!

As you go through this holiday season, my hope is that you remember that Jesus is our source of peace and joy (Romans 15:12-13). Jesus came to make everything right. Why keep all that goodness bottled up inside?!

The shepherds shared it. Will you?

Alyssa Rasor (and your Heavenly Father)