The Joy of Running

8That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”

13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.”

15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.
- Luke 2:8-9, New Living Translation

We’re in the middle of the Advent season, a time where we treasure in our hearts the coming of Christ, just as Mary did when He was born. We remember how He came as a human baby, our Emmanuel (God with us). We remember that His birth announcement was far from ordinary. It was glorious, frightening and yet wonderful. A messenger of God brought “good news of great joy.” A Savior was born! This news was so joyful that the powerful armies of heaven could not contain themselves; they burst out in praises to God. Imagine the armies of our world putting down their weapons and raising up their hands in exuberant praise. Talk about peace on Earth!

The angels were not alone. The shepherds also responded to this new and wonderful work of God. They believed the message they heard and ran to find their Savior. When they had found Him they told everyone their story.

We all know the story of Christmas. But God wants more from us. He wants us to believe. So many of us mistake understanding the gospel for believing in it. We too often mistake knowing the truth for trusting it. The shepherds believed God and ran. They sought out their Savior. Have we sought Jesus lately? He has come. Yes, He died, He rose again, He ascended into Heaven. Now He comes to the door of our heart and knocks. It’s not enough to hear Him knock and know who it is. We have to open the door and let Him in. Only then will we experience the “great joy” that we celebrate on Christmas.

He came to us before as Savior, with love, forgiveness and friendship. But He will come again as Judge. It will not then be the time to make up our minds about Jesus. For those of us who believe, let us seek Him today. For those of us who have yet to believe, today is the day of salvation.