God with Us
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10
Frost-bitten, cold to the bone, back-breaking work and lonely as hell. The life of a shepherd was not to be envied. It was a thankless task – people looked down their noses at you. Poorly paid, because it required minimal intelligence and even less personal hygiene. Looking after sheep was for the stupid. Stinking like a farmyard won you no friends. Yet God chooses to be born in the stench of a cattle trough. And the angels choose to bypass the universities and theological colleges and churches to announce their good news to the lonely forgotten figures on a hillside.
God is down-to-earth in more ways than one. The text tells us God is with us, whoever we are. Today God isn’t in the tinsel and the trappings. He is with the frost-bitten, cold homeless on the streets. He is with the lonely widowed in her small apartment. He is with the drunk on the park bench. He is near the addict with the dark pipe. He is in the midst of all of us, but wherever there is a forgotten figure on a spiritual ‘hillside,’ God’s heart is particularly there. And this Christmas we could be His messenger of good news. The pair of gloves we buy for the homeless guy tells him God is with us. The visit to the lonely widower tells her God is with us. Joy to the world. Emmanuel. God is with us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father – thank You for coming in the flesh to show us how to love and touch others who are hurting – for saving us from our lostness! In Jesus’ Name, Amen