Day 25: Shepherds hear the angels & find Jesus
Read Luke 2:8-14


Luke 2:14 - Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.

Shepherds were considered one of the least-important groups of people in the land. It did not seem to matter that the greatest king their nation had ever had, David, started out his life as a shepherd. Sheep are smelly animals, and the smell rubs off on those who care for them, so shepherds were usually avoided because they smelled dirty.

But God sent angels to these shepherds on the hillside outside Bethlehem. Suddenly the darkness of night was shattered by bright light as an angel stood with the shepherds. His message surprised them, and his presence terrified them.

Many people through the years, however, have misinterpreted the message of the verse above. They believe that the peace Jesus brought at His birth meant no more war on earth. This was not what the angels said. The peace Jesus brought at His birth was the offer of peace between mankind and God. As we read in the Scripture of last lesson, all those who believed in Him were given the gift of becoming a child of God – they have peace with God. The day will come when Jesus comes again, and this time He will bring peace to earth – a peace which will be enforced.

*What does peace with God mean to you today?