We are busy in our study of the Gospel of Luke. Last week we looked at chpt.2v1-7, The Birth of the Messiah, in a lonely, stinky stable. We learnt that there is no circumstance where God’s power cannot be displayed. We’ll be looking at verses 8-20 today — a passage very familiar to us, especially at Christmastime.

"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!" (15) When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." (16) And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (17) And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. (18) And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. (19) But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them." Luke 2:8-20

• 1. God is gracious to sinners. (v.8; v.15-18.)
• 2. Angels love the gospel.  (v.9-14)
• 3. Praising God for the Good News of the Gospel. (v.19-20)

When you’re not thinking about anything else, what do you think about? Is the gospel ever there? Ever a part of the deepest thoughts and desires of your heart?

The gospel was part of Mary’s deepest thoughts. The same is true for the shepherds. Luke gives us much to think about in this passage. We should be a gospel-saturated people, a people who realize that we're sinners and we didn't deserve God to reach out to us in grace. But He did anyway. And we should not to be bored by that. We should be overjoyed by that. We should be surprised by that. And God in the gospel has given us something that angels love to sing about. We should love to sing about it more. And God in the gospel has given us something to ponder and to praise, and we ought to ponder, and we should praise God for it.