Scripture:

9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Observation:

Note the tenses of the verbs in this passage. 

The shepherds WERE terrified ... the angel SAID to them, do not BE afraid; for SEE - I AM BRINGING you ... 

Past tense, present tense, present continuous tense; and, if you look ahead one verse you will find the future tense "...you WILL find...".

This is the wonderful story of incarnation that we celebrate this night. God breaks into our present to free us from the weight of our personal and collective past. God breaks into our present to secure finally Gods promised vision for our future together with God. 

There are many, many ways that this fabulous surprise changes us, perhaps the most important is that it has power to change our orientation to time itself. No longer do we have to stumble through life looking backwards at the past. Nor, are we left to fearfully strive in the present to secure a future hard one. Nor, are we called to despise the present by fleeing it chasing after the cheap hope of paradise for the chosen only. 

No, we are planted in the present, eyes opened to the majesty that surrounds us, freed from anxiety and anger, and set forward on the adventurous path of following Our Saviour into the future which promises to continually 

surprise and delight is and fellow travellers along the way. 

Application:

I don't know about you, but I need this good news today. I am going to worry less about manufacturing a perfect Christmas for anyone and focus on pointing people to the surprise God wants to give us, and then walking with them until it is revealed. 

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for Kairos - another kind of time...your kind of time - where you break into our midst 

and set us on our feet to follow you. Soli Deo Gloria!