Messengers
By Jeff Kimes - Executive Pastor
Webster defines the word Messenger as “one who bears a message”.
In Luke chapter 2 we are introduced to the first message bearers of the gospel.
In Luke, we read about the encounter the shepherds had with angels. One night, the angels appeared to them while they were looking after their sheep. Imagine how surprised the shepherds were. They were going about their daily routine and then something out of the ordinary happened.
Luke 2:8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
The angel brought them good news.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
After their encounter with the angel of the Lord, the shepherds made their way to Bethlehem to see the things that they had been told about.
Luke 2:15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
The shepherds were the first message bearers of the birth of Jesus. They shared the events of the night with everyone they met. Christmas is a little over a week away and schedules are getting busier and busier. There are parties to plan, parties to attend, family gatherings, church programs, gifts to still buy, and on and on I could go.
If we are not careful we could miss the true message of Christmas. It is not about the parties, the gifts, or the programs it is about the message we bring to the world.
We are the message bearers of the birth of Jesus, the one who comes to take away the sin of the world. Don’t miss an opportunity to share the message of hope to someone this Christmas.
Be a Messenger of Jesus!
Jeff