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.”
Have you ever wondered how the angels felt the night Jesus was born? We tend to only think of them as messengers, but other passages in the Bible indicate they have a keen interest in Jesus’ incarnation and the redemption He brought to the world.
It’s clear that the angels were overjoyed to bring this news! They had been waiting, along with the rest of the world, for God to fulfill His promise of a redeemer — a promise made centuries before when mankind first broke from God through sin.
The angels came in the darkness of that night and the glory of the Lord shone around them. It was so bright it woke up the shepherds and terrified them. Perhaps they thought the world was burning up with a great fire in the sky. They had never seen light so bright.
And then the announcement, beginning with the first words we always hear from angels: Don’t be afraid! And then … This is good news. News that will bring great joy to all the people in the world! The Messiah that you have longed for and waited for is here. Immanuel. Come and see Him.
And suddenly, ANGELS filled the sky! Did you know that Revelation seven describes an uncountable multitude worshipping before the throne of God continuously? Among these are people from every nation, tribe, and language. And the angels are there, too.
When we worship the Lord, we are joining that multitude. One day we will be present with that throng of worshippers, filled with joy and complete satisfaction as we give glory to the One who is Worthy — the one who came as that tiny baby more than 2,000 years ago.
QUESTION: How would you have reacted when seeing the angels in the sky that night?
PRAYER: Lord, I am awestruck when I imagine the worship in heaven and how it spilled over into our world on the night of Your birth. I want to worship You with everything I’ve got! You are worthy of it all. I praise You, Lord Jesus. Amen.
A night sky in an isolated place is the perfect canvas for God’s glory to be seen! Even on ordinary evenings, the stars really speak to who He is. In partnership with AllMomDoes, as part of the CRISTA Family of Ministries, CRISTA Camps provides a space where children and adults alike can encounter the wonder and awe of God’s creation and be served by a staff that is passionate to bring people into a relationship with Jesus! Please give to CRISTA Camps today so more campers can come to faith in Jesus.
