Luke 2:8-12, "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'"
The vast majority of us aren't called to be pastors in the local church. But, as Christ-followers, we are called to be ministers of the gospel of peace. Think about it. God could've sent His angel to appear before the religious elite - but He didn't! He chose shepherds, men of humble means, to be the first to receive and share the good news of Jesus' birth. This is proof that regardless of where we work or our course of study, if we know Christ personally, we are called by God to be His messengers wherever we go.
The Bible says we are here to glorify God and shine His light in darkness. But, often, this "darkness" isn't found in some back alley or high-crime area; it's in close proximity to us at work, school, in our neighborhoods, and public areas. Yet, it's in these common places that we sometimes feel hesitant about sharing the good news. But, whoever is without Christ is living in darkness. So, even if we feel shy about sharing Jesus, we must remember Who we're here for and what our purpose is - to bring light into the shadows, peace to the broken, and hope to the hopeless.
Just as the angel said to the shepherds, "Do not be afraid," God is saying the same to us. Allow His Spirit to infiltrate your heart and mind as you invite coworkers, classmates, and neighbors to experience Christmas at Fellowship Church.
Dear Lord, I praise You and want to shine Your light before others. Give me the courage, as Your messenger, to boldly proclaim the true meaning of Christmas. In Jesus' name, Amen.