Why God Appeared To The Shepherds? Do You Want To Experience The Same?

In the book of Luke 2:8-20, the author describes in details how the shepherds received the good news directly from the angel of the God. First thing we may ask is, why God gave this message of the birth of Jesus to the group of lowly, ordinary and unnoticed people and not to the dignitaries, wealthy and well known personalities? As we can see in the birth of Jesus, God used an ordinary people like Mary and Joseph; Mary has delivered Jesus not in the palace but in a manger where the animals sleep and eat; the social and economic situations are uncertain, full of worries and economically in distress cause of unfriendly system of Roman Empire's handling the society. The shepherds are one of them and affected also of that societal turmoil that seemingly hope and change for the better are beyond their reach and impossible to come in their life time. The appearance of the angel to the shepherds in verse 9 created fear and seemingly unbelievable experience to them. To see and hear a supernatural like an angel is a very different story for a normal people like the shepherds, about that moment of witnessing and experiencing of the glorious presence of God amazed them and had changed their outlook in life. They became so excited to witness the things that they learned from the teachings in Torah concerning the prophecy of a Messiah that was written hundred of years have passed that all the Jewish people will one day be delivered from the tyranny hands of the the Roman Empire and other issues in their lives (Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7). They can't believe that what was prophesied will come to a reality. To witness a host or big number of angels was a very rare experience these lowly men had. They had an overwhelming joy that no one can explain. And after this encounter, the angels left them and these shepherds excitedly left their flocks and went to Bethlehem to obey what the angel of God told them. When they saw the child wrapped in cloths, they were so overjoyed, praising and glorifying God (verse 17) and they left the child with gladness and new level of excitement and inner strength that they shared this good news of the birth of the Savior of all men including themselves to all they met going back to their place. This account in the lives of the shepherds taught us clearly of the following: First, that the words of God are right and true and he is faithful in all he does (Psalm 33:4). What he promised, he will do it and we can hold on to these; Second, the good news of a Savior has been born to us thousand years have passed. The solution to all man's cares has come already and he is Jesus, the true God who became true man to live and to die to save us all from the power and punishment of sin. Satan has no longer the final say in our lives cause Jesus came here to rescue and to deliver us from the powerful hands of Satan that brought worries, fear, sadness, hopelessness and helplessness in our lives. True meaning and purpose in life are now available to us all through Jesus by accepting him through faith as our Lord and Savior, we will be like the shepherds who were liberated from fear and hopelessness but rather, became joyful; Lastly, the shepherds shared with joy and enthusiasm the good news of love and life to all continuously that others might have these also, for Jesus came to have us life and to have this more abundantly (John 10:10). Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be thankful always that this Christmas season is a reminder that we should be joyful and excited to share the good news to all. Don't be distracted of the materialism around us. Christmas means, sharing the best gift we had through faith in Jesus (John 1:12-13) to all people who have no peace and joy in life (Isaiah 48:22). Let other people be freed from sadness, fear, no direction in life, envy, quarreling and others. Have pity on them as how God had pity on us. Let us follow the example of Jesus that he gave his life to die to give life to the dying world. Are you willing and ready to become a channel of change to one's life and to lead him/her to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus? Ask God in prayer that the Holy Spirit will give you joy, excitement and concern for your loved ones, relatives, friends and contacts. The second coming of Christ is at hand. Wake up and be watchful always! For more biblical messages about Christmas, life, joy, blessings and others, visit our website at https:www.savelifewithjoy.com or go to our blogs at hopeandlifeforyou.com and Eugene "EJ" Juarez or email us at agn623@gmail.com for your suggestions, comment and prayer requests. God bless you always.

What If Jesus Didn't Born In Bethlehem?

God threw Satan and all the evil angels to the earth because of their pride and so evil heart that they desired the holy throne of the Almighty and holy God. Now that he and his followers are on earth, he deceived our forefathers, Adam and Eve and he got them and disobeyed God and they were threw also away from the garden of Eden. The same crooked desire Satan is doing to the people in all parts of the world right now, his aim is, to deceive, lead them away from God and to bring them all with him in everlasting destruction in hell - a place of torment, punishment, unstoppable tears and cries prevailed, a place where even the solid metals,stones and things melted easily but Satan, evil angels and the souls of wicked men do not melt but will remain alive in the midst of fiery lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). The thief came to kill, to steal and to destroy men whom God has created in his image (John 10:10). If God didn't send Jesus to be born in a humble manger and of an ordinary woman in the town of Bethlehem thousands of years have passed, the shepherds and all the people during that time today and in the future will remain in a state of hopelessness and helplessness. What kind of life people could have if this world will be filled of hatred, anger, envy, continuous breaking of families, emptiness, losing of self-confidence, self-esteem, killings, corruption, sickness, poverty and others, do you still want to stay here in this world for the rest of your life? God used Mary and Jesus was born of an ordinary woman not through the union of man and woman but by the power of the Holy Spirit who overshadowed her womb and conceived the baby . By faith, Mary and Joseph accepted by and obeyed the message of great salvation that the angel of God told them. That Jesus will be born for he will save the people from sins. The real presence of great joy, hope, and peace were then experienced by all through Jesus, for he Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:21;23). He was born not to kill the Roman Emperor who contributed to Israel's life of misery but to defeat the father of sin, who is Satan - the cause the fall of men into sin that led and will lead the world from eternal presence of God. "... Jesus came that you might have life and to have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Jesus birth gave light, hope and life for the dying world. Praise God as what the bible says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son Jesus, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit knew that there is no hope for all men whatever they striving to do in order to restore their broken relationship with God. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23); "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Friend, you need Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The best gift of God for you is his Son, Jesus Christ. He knows your present needs and what you feel right now. He is just waiting for you to come to him and ask for help to save you from the power and punishment of sin (Revelation 21:8) The bible says in Isaiah 48:22, "There is no peace says the Lord for the wicked". You can't hide anything from him. Be honest to yourself and to God. You will remain helpless and hopeless even you have all the material things in this life and let your soul to lose the real meaning of life that you need. "What shall a profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits or lose his soul" (Mark 8:36). "Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30) Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today, the best gift of God for you. Jesus loves you and he has a wonderful plan in your life. For more biblical messages about life, forgiveness, peace, joy and restoration of marriage, visit our website at https://www.savelifewithjoy.com or go to our blogs at hopeandlifeforyou.com and Eugene "EJ" Juarez or email us at agn623@gmail.com for free counseling and prayer for your concerns and healing.