Come and See
Two weeks ago, while studying the all too familiar Christmas story, once again, I was so touched that God chose ordinary Shepherds to be the first to hear the good news that Jesus had been born. They immediately hurried off to see what the angels had announced. Scripture says that “they found it just as they had been told.”
Today I remembered a blog I had written a few years ago about this very part of the story. As I re-read it, it seems very timely to re-post.
COME AND SEE
I find myself pressing repeat and singing the same Christmas song over and over this season. I keep pressing hard because I want the chorus to press down deep into my heart.
For now the song is “Light Of The World” by Chris Tomlin and Lauren Daigle.
“Noel, Noel!
Come and see what God has done.
Noel, Noel!
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us.”
It began that very first Christmas at the birth of our Savior. The Spirit of God beckoned shepherds and kings to come and see what God had done.
As the Shepherds were doing their normal, everyday job, suddenly the sky lit up and the heavenly choir began to sing. I imagine the Shepherds stood more erect than a line of toy soldiers as they said to one another,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:15)
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:16-18, 20)
Have you ever thought about the rest of the shepherd’s lives? Is there any way they could have ever gotten over this night in the fields? How about when they found Mary, Joseph and Jesus just as they had been told?
How can we get over it? How can we ever forget what God has done? And yet we do!
We see here in scripture that when they “went and saw”, it so greatly affected them that they “went and told”. They glorified God and praised Him for all they had heard and seen. I need to press repeat and stare at the miracle of the birth of my Savior. This story of amazing love is mine forever. I will never get over it personally and I want to reflect this shining light to a dark world in need of the Savior.
Let’s return to the manger in our hearts. Let’s stare at Him. Let’s be overtaken with this glorious love story that we are a part of. And let’s get up and go tell what we have seen, heard and experienced. We can join in on the great chorus,
“Come and see what God has done.”
“The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us.”
As we approach the end of this crazy year of 2020,
we especially need to refocus on the light of the world.
Pause and ponder the goodness of God. Repeat the song and the story and give praise to God. Oh, how this dark world needs to hear the good news of Jesus! Join in the song and sing it everywhere that you go. Share the Hope of the world.