From Our Family Pastor, Dennis Johns: “How was your Christmas?”

​From Our Family Pastor, Dennis Johns:
“How was your Christmas?”
I’m already getting prepared for that question, and I
haven’t even got the lights up on my house yet! Don’t get me
wrong; I am not advocating for this season to be over already.
In fact, I love Christmas; I love the renewed focus on Jesus, the lights, the festivities, the gatherings with friends and family, the sight of presents under Granny’s tree (OK, Granny is my mother In-law, and you have never seen so many presents under a tree on Christmas Eve!), and of course the food. I just know that when that question is asked on January 3 or sometime thereafter, my usual perfunctory “It was good” answer will not begin to scratch the surface of how awesome it really was.
What if this Christmas we took a cue from the shepherds?
Scripture tells us that they were just out doing shepherd things
in the field, and suddenly an angel appeared and told them the good news. ”I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 The angel then proceeded to tell them that they would find the baby in a manger. Can you imagine the excitement? They had to see this for themselves, and scripture says they went “with haste.” When they saw the baby, they couldn’t help but go and tell everybody what they had been told and what they had experienced. “And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.” You see, these lowly shepherds had been in the presence of the Almighty; and it changed them. When they were asked about their experience, they didn’t respond with a simple “It was good.” Rather, they were “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen,” and they had amazing impact with their response.
The shepherds heard with their ears the presentation of
the good news; they went and saw with their eyes the majesty
of the good news in the form of a baby. And they could not help but use their mouths to praise and glorify God as they shared the good news on their journey. I hope the “good news of great joy for all the people” will resonate with you afresh this Christmas season. May we all approach this time of celebration with the awe and excitement of the shepherds.