“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Luke 2:8
To more deeply appreciate what it must have been like on the night that Jesus was born you need to drive out into the country, away from all of the city lights. There were many nights, when I lived in the Sandhills of Western Nebraska, when the night was so still that I could literally hear my heart beating inside of me and listened to goose bumps ‘pop’ on my back. The stars appeared to be bright, shining diamonds hanging in the sky and that is a time when God is so close that one can almost reach out and touch His hand.
Back in the day, while living in Petionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, it was also possible to go out onto the roof of my apartment and gaze at the stars since there was no electricity for street lights; and there too, their radiance and position seemed so close that a person could almost reach out and rub against them and feel the closeness of our Heavenly Father, Creator.
The Son of God came to earth on a still, quiet night; oblivious to many. Too many in our world today will not spend time considering the importance of His birth, His life, His death and His resurrection. It seems so difficult to separate ourselves from the activities of this fallen world to stop for a few moments, hit the pause button, and give thanks for His coming to be our Savior. I close today’s devotion with the words to the hymn ‘Silent Night’ that were written by Joseph Mohr in 1818.
“Silent night! Holy night! All is calm; all is bright, round yon Virgin Mother and Child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight; glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing, Alleluia. Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born! Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love's pure light radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you, Merry Christmas.
Jay