Imagine sitting quietly in the dark, perhaps the sounds of sheep and insects making night music, maybe a clear sky when all the stars are visible with just a few clouds breaking the patterns in God’s jewel box, when suddenly you are jolted by bright light and voices and, above all things, angels! I don’t know about you, but I would be terrified! We are not told how the sheep responded, perhaps God kept them quiet to avoid distracting his chosen witnesses to the birth of His one and only begotten Son.
Luke’s story tells us of shepherds interrupted in their accustomed task of guarding the flocks and being sent in a new direction: seek the Savior, the Messiah, born of all places, in a barn (stable)! Did they discuss the likelihood of this news, look for someone else to check it out, wait until daylight when they could see better? No! They immediately took off to see for themselves. Then they spread the news to everyone they met and returned to their accustomed task ‘glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them” (Luke 2:20).
Ask God to ‘jolt’ you out of your accustomed tasks this Christmas season. See where He might send you, what new facet of Himself He will show you, and who he will put in your path to share the joy of He message. Let His beauteous heavenly light illuminate all of the dark or sad or hidden corners in your life and fill you with His peace and joy and glory!
Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light, and usher in the morning;
O shepherds, shudder not in fright, but hear the angel’s warning.
This child, now weak in infancy, our confidence and joy shall be,
The pow’r of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making.
This night of wonder, night of joy, was born the Christ, our brother,
He comes, not mighty to destroy, to bid us love each other.
How could he quit his kingly state for such a work of greed and hate?
What deep humiliation secured the world’s salvation!
Come, dearest child, into our hearts, and leave your crib behind you!
Let this be where new life starts for all who seek and find you.
To you the honor, thanks, and praise, for all your gifts this time of grace;
Come, conquer and deliver this world, and us forever.
Break forth, break forth, O heav’nly light!