Come, Adore on Bended Knee...

What an amazing experience it must have been!

Shepherds, out in the fields around Bethlehem, in the pitch blackness of night, when suddenly an Angel in brilliant white appears to them in the sky!

The scripture says that they were "terrified", or (my favorite version) "sore afraid".


What an amazing, incredible experience that must have been!
What was their reaction?

Did they say 'wow, that was cool', and go back to watching their sheep?

Of course not!

They said “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:15)

They HAD TO check it out!

And when they did, what did they find?

"They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger." (v. 16)

It was just as the angels had said!

Their reaction was the only reasonable one, given what they'd seen and heard: 

"After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,...The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them." (vv. 17-20)

The shepherds continued to praise God for what had been done! 

This baby was THE Hope for "peace on earth, good will to those on whom His favor rests"!


As one of my favorite Christmas carols puts it, 

"Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your glorious strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be, which inspire your heavenly song?"

They were changed! They were praising God!

Our response should be similar:

"Come to Bethlehem and see Him who's birth the angels sing;
 Come--adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn king!"

Let us "adore" Him 'on bended knee'. 
Let us humble ourselves before the Lord of the nations.
Let us worship Him with our lives--this Christmas, and always!