Birth and pregnancy announcements have been elevated to an art form in our culture. Today, the pressure is high to be creative and unique when you let the world know that your newest bundle of joy is on his or her way. One well-known example of ingenuity occurred several years when a couple had their photograph taken with the husband holding two large bags of ice as he stood next to his pregnant wife. The caption below the picture took recipients back to the early 1990s, as they read, “Ice, Ice, Baby!” A more contemporary announcement from a family with the last name, “Shark,” showed a sign in their front yard with the caption, “Baby Shark, Due-Due-Due-Due-Due-Due!”

When we receive a birth or pregnancy announcement from someone who is important to us we often feel honored that we were included in the list of those to whom the new parents felt close. But how would you feel if you received an announcement from someone you weren’t even sure knew you at all? The shepherds out in the fields outside of Bethlehem were stunned to receive the greatest birth announcement of all time.

The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, Verses 8 through 14, says...

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The angel spoke to the shepherds saying, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL people. For unto YOU is born this day... a Savior.” The angel spoke of a Savior for all of humanity, but the angel had brought the message first to them. Their own importance to God was made evident in a dramatic way. It became immediately clear that He saw them and He knew them. They weren’t bit players, worthless extras in God’s cosmic drama. They were among those God had sent the Savior to rescue. He wasn’t coming to save the wealthy and important, kings, queens, and high priests. He was coming to save ALL who would respond to Him in faith.

Have you ever felt like you were just a bit player in God’s cosmic drama? While the overall story is not about us, (it’s about Jesus), we are not insignificant to God. He sent His Son so that you and I, whether we are big or small or someplace in between in terms of significance to the world around us, can enter into a relationship with Him. Like the shepherds, we are on God’s mailing list. The birth announcement was meant for us, too. Join us this Sunday as we finish our Advent series and experience what is was like to hear that “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” has come on our behalf.

Pastor Kevin