The First Noel...

The First Noel, the Angels did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

                                            The First Noel

The shepherds were going about their own business… watching their flocks on that night when suddenly they saw a host of angels. They encountered something that must have been such a spectacular sight, with a message that changed the world. And with that announcement, they hurried to see for themselves what they had been told

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Luke 2:15-18(msg)

Those shepherds must have been men of great faith… after all the experience of angels doing a praise break (now that’s a sight I’d be triple triple delighted to see, an angelic praise break… it must have been such a sight for the shepherds) they were given the news of the birth of a king… its one thing to get revelation in the presence of God, in an atmosphere where the glory is glaring… in church, in the place of worship or your private fellowship with God… its one thing to get the message, the word in the light of Gods tangible presence... from your pastor etc. It illuminates through you. It lights up your body and your heart is enlarged, you are refreshed and ready for battle… and its another thing to keep the faith after the thrill and excitement of the moment wears out. When the atmosphere isn’t as dense as it was. When the worship music stops and you move away through life, on your way to Bethlehem to see the word, like the shepherds… its one thing, and its one thing to see the word in flesh… because sometimes, most times, it doesn’t always manifest as it is. It comes as a speck, a tiny seed that transforms into something bigger with time… into the promise you’ve been handed.

Those were men of faith to go to Bethlehem and not in the finest inn or home, but in the room where animals were kept, not in a crib, but on a manger where animal food was served… they saw a baby there and they recognized the king in him, not by sight, but by the word spoken to them. They held on to that word to be true even when the surrounding situation was dodgy. I mean we hear from God sometimes, but we still find ourselves in a place of doubt…

They didn’t let their doubt stop their worship… they worshiped the king even when He didn’t look like one. They worshiped Him when he was just a baby in a manger. Even if they questioned when logic slowly seeped in, even when they could convince themselves that maybe they dreamed the angelic hosts rejoicing… they still worshiped, and they didn’t stop there, they went about telling everyone the word concerning the child in a manger. Their conviction must have been so strong, strong enough for the bible to record that those who heard the bizarre news through them were impressed.

You see, God gives us words… and this words manifest in form of seeds, but we refuse to look at this seed, and we ignore them sometimes, because they don’t look like the picture God has shown you. When a baby first forms in its mother’s womb, it looks nothing like a baby. He’s not giving you a full-blown ‘adult’ dream when you haven’t birth it. And sometimes the birthing wouldn’t be where and how you want it to be, it will be in a manger… but don’t be so short sighted, that you fail to recognize the king you have birth becomes it doesn’t come in or from the package you expect.

For who hath despised the day of small things?...(Zechariah 4:10)

Don’t despise the days of small things… when you see the word manifest as a child in a manger… rejoice, worship God for fulfilling His word, and let it grow into the bigger picture that was shown. Don’t kill the vision before it manifests fully because it’s delivered in a different package than what you imagined.Elijah's servant saw the cloud as small as a mans fist and it was enough for Elijah to confidently send a message to the king to get up and going, for he knew he had been answered. (1 Kings 18:43-45)

Also, the shepherds story showed me that we can’t continue despising people because of where they are from (tribe, race, social status)… the shepherds bowed and worshiped the baby Jesus as King, even though Christ was in a manger… in the same grade as they were. But they knew what they heard, and were not fazed by what they saw. Do not despise a person’s journey, you don’t know the king that is seething and preparing for a manifestation that would change. The world.. In the lady who makes your hair, the guy who washes your car, the cab guy who picks you up, the nanny you employed… anyone, everyone. Show respect to those you meet even if they don’t look like the kings you mingle with or hope to dine with. You never know who’s king tomorrow with a vision/mandate that would bless your life.