31. God's Birth Announcement

God’s Birth Announcement

There is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2. 11.

The above words constitute the greatest birth announcement ever sent. It came by special delivery all the way from heaven to earth. The “Prince of Peace,” the “King of Kings,” and the “Lord of Lords,” had just been born. The “heavenly host was praising God,” and the good news was about to be given to earth. But who would God choose, of all the people on this earth, to be first to receive this announcement? Would it be the kings and rulers? Would it be the priestly order of Jerusalem? Who could possibly be given this singular honor?

God chose the lonely shepherds to be honored above all other men that first Christmas night. “And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field keeping watch by night over their flocks.” To these humble workers God chose to declare His good news. The innkeeper and his house full of guests, only a stone’s throw away from the manger, were unconscious of the fact that the greatest event in history was taking place. But out in the darkness of that night, the shepherds were suddenly aware that “the glory of the Lord shone round about them.” Their lonely vigil was broken by an experience never to be forgotten. God the Father had chosen these men, whom nobody else seemed to notice, as the first recipients of the heavenly birth announcement.

God chose men who were willing to leave everything in order to see Christ. “The shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.” If these men had not gone to Bethlehem that night the great announcement would not have brought them a real experience of Christ. How tragic that many today hear the same announcement, but never find their way to the spiritual Bethlehem to meet the living Christ!

God chose men who were willing to pass the good news on to others. “They made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.” These were God’s first preachers of the greatest news the world has ever heard. Every one of them was a layman. How silly and unscriptural to believe the spreading of the gospel should be done only by ordained men! If it were educated men only that God wanted, the angel would have gone to Jerusalem and awakened the priests and given them that glorious message. But God is no respecter of persons. He chose Mary Magdalene to be the first witness of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Surely, in this day and age, He is looking for those whom He can bless, and who will pass the good news along to others.

God chose men who were willing to give Him glory and honor. “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.” The experience was real. Their entire lives were changed. The result was that God was glorified. No one ever leaves the spiritual Bethlehem but with glory and praise to God. It is a foretaste of heaven. They had experienced “the peace of God which passeth all understanding.”

God’s birth announcement remains unchanged. You who have read these lines have been chosen to hear it again. “There is born to you . . . a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” Friend, pray for grace to he like the shepherds of old, that this announcement may not fall on deaf ears.