Face To FaithSample

As the great theologian Linus declared to my generation in A Charlie Brown Christmas, “The shepherds were watching over their flock by night.” Have you ever wondered about that night? What was so special about those shepherds? Was that just some ordinary flock of sheep? As you can imagine, there was much more to the story than Linus, Lucy, and Charlie Brown were able to convey. You see, this flock of sheep had been hand-chosen. The Bible tells us that these particular sheep just outside of Jerusalem, just down the road from the Temple, would have been found to be worthy for sacrifice and without blemish. As a result, they were special sheep that were about to be put up for sale. These were the sheep that were to be sacrificed, offered on behalf of the sin of the person and the person’s family bringing the sheep. It makes sense that the announcement of the arrival of the Presence of God would first appear to this particular occupation, because this occupation represents all of us who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All of us need forgiveness—an atoning forgiveness that the sheep represented, but only temporarily. God’s plan all along was to provide something permanent, not temporary. God’s plan was to provide a lasting Gift that would remove from us our sin, as far as the East is from the West, by the precious blood of the Lamb of God. That’s what Christmas is all about: the gift of His priceless Presence in the form of a baby. With the assistance of the angels, the song of His arrival rang out. For these particular shepherds, what a sight it must have been. Those shepherds, who all day every day watched over lambs for God, now beheld the Lamb of God. We, too, can behold the Lamb of God this Christmas, if we will just look for Him. Prayer Lord Jesus, I don’t want to be too caught up in the traditions and religion of Christmas that I forget to really see You. Please open my eyes and my heart to know Your Presence this Christmas season! Amen