"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 of great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angels, praising God and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men on whom His favor rests.'" Luke 2:8-14
This Christmas the story of the Shepherds stands out to me the most as an example of how we are loved by God – every individual, no matter what the world thinks of any given individual.
The angels were not sent to Bethlehem, or to Jerusalem, or even to the three kings. This amazing and magnificent display of the heavenly hosts was sent to announce the birth of Jesus, the King of kings to a rag tag bunch of shepherds. God thought enough of these men to send the most awesome display of His Heavenly Armies since Elisha asked the Lord to show his servant the Chariots of Fire that surrounded them. (2 Kings 6:8-23)
And today, the Lord God Almighty speaks to each individual of us, drawing us to Him if we have a desire to draw near to Him and be obedient to Him.