Today's Reading: Luke 2:8-14

Devo Author: Kyle Plunkett

Date: December 20, 2022

This time of year, I am always a little surprised by the amount of Christmas cards I have hanging on my fridge. Close friends, distant family members, old co-workers all sending their cards to my home, announcing that Christmas is finally here! The cards are familiar, jovial, and sometime tongue-in-cheek; “Jesus is the reason for the season,” “Merry Christmas,” “Glad tidings and happy New Year,” “Keep Christ in Christmas,” and my all-time favorite, “Merry Christmas from the ___ family,” complete with a beach family photo from this past summer.

All these Christmas announcements on my refrigerator can’t even begin to hold a candle to the announcement of the first Christmas. There were a few shepherds, doing their normal, everyday shepherd duties, when all of a sudden the sky ripped in two with an angel of the Lord standing over them! “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” (Luke 2:10-12 NIV). After the announcement the other angels join in song! They sing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14 NIV).

The announcement was one for the ages, it was the greatest announcement ever made! The promise of a savior, a messiah king from the line of David has been fulfilled! The promise made on behalf of all of humanity everywhere that God has not forgotten His people plagued by darkness was ushered in by the light of an angelic choir. The Light of the World has been born, and you’ll find Him where you least expect Him, as a baby, wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger.

We call a good-news announcement “gospel,” and that is exactly what Jesus brought. The gospel news that God is with us, He loves us, He meets us in the mundane, He hasn’t forgotten His promises, and you can find Him at work where you least expect Him.

So this Christmas season, as you go about doing your normal, everyday duties just as the shepherds were doing, stop and let the awe of the gospel announcement bring a song to your heart. Join the heavenly hosts in worship of Jesus, the Savior of people like you and me. And maybe next time you open your mailbox to find another card, or you drive down your street to see another “Merry Christmas” sign lit up in your neighbors yard, stop and ponder the miracle, the wonder, the joy, and the awe the shepherds must have felt when they realized God does indeed keep His promises.