Dear Christian friends:

Christmas is here. Again we have heard God's most important message; The message of the angel to the shepherds: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10) What will we do about it? Some messages we can ignore and we will not be sorry or hurt or suffer loss.

They are not important like ads in newspapers or through the mail. But if you get a message from Uncle Sam, you can't ignore that: Draft Board, Income tax, etc. If you do you will be fined and suffer loss.

So also with God's Christmas Message which He sent by the angel to the shepherds. We must not ignore it. We must give attention to it, and do something about it. It is not bad news like we often get from the government but good news. We should be very glad to hear it and believe it.

The angel who preached the Good News: "Christ the Savior is born" had left. The millions of angels who assembled over the shepherds and sang, "Glory to God in the highest!" had also left. Then the shepherds said one to another: "Let us go now unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has happened, which the Lord hath made known unto us." (verse 15)

The shepherds believed God's most important message. They were not too proud and self-righteous. They did not think they were too smart for God's Word. They were meek and humble, knew and confessed their sins and not satisfied with the things of this world. Many today are too proud and self-righteous. They do not confess their sins. They think they know more than God. They say, "There is no god."

While shepherds believed their faith was not perfect but very weak. They went to see God's proof so their faith could be strengthened. What was God's proof? The baby lying in a manger. The angel said, "And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." (verse 12) Even in those days mothers did not put babies in a manger. Very unusual. The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem searching for God's proof a Baby lying in a manger.

So also our faith in the Christmas Good News, "Christ the Savior is born" needs strengthening. We, too, like the shepherds need proof of these wonderful words of God's angel. Where is proof from God for us? If we go to Bethlehem will we find the Baby Jesus in the manger and Mary and Joseph? No! Where is our manger? Martin Luther says, "The Bible is our manger it cradles the Christ Child for us. (Show manger made of Bible with straw and a small doll lying on it.)

We sign Bible, The Jesus Book. The Bible is our manger. Let us go to it like the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and searched. Let us search God's Word daily. We will find all the proof we need.

Finally the shepherds told everyone they met the good news. Do you? Will you? They praised God and gave glory to Him. (verse 20) Let us praise our wonderful God too.

Amen.