Nearby.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.” (Luke 2:8)

It was just another night.

Just another night, that us, until the private whispers from an angel to Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph, were about to turn into shouts of proclamation to shepherds who found themselves settling in for the ordinary job of watching sheep when, unbeknownst to them, they were about to experience the extraordinary.

It’s funny how you can read a passage for many years when, suddenly, a word will catch you off guard. For me, it was found in Luke 2:8. Seven letters. Ready?

Nearby.

Imagine. Before the skies opened and the heavenly chorus sang the triumphant news of “Immanuel, God with us”, in their very midst was Jesus.

God… was… nearby.

As a pastor, I must confess something to you. It’s not always easy to practice what I preach. I have exclaimed a lot this season to slow down, “don’t run ahead of God this advent season… walk… anticipate… experience”. I’ve lost that simplicity a few times over the past several weeks. Can’t lie about that;)

I wonder if the shepherds ever got lost in the task of chasing the sheep down, putting up the tents, fixing the fires as evening would set, just going through the busyness of what shepherding must have involved. Yet… there in Bethlehem, quietly and humbly, while they entertained the busyness of their lives, God had entered into humanity and declared, “I have not given up on you. I have found a way. I am here.”

Today, I find myself wrapped in the arms of the truth that, indeed, the Lord is near. I am grateful that, no matter how fast I run, no matter how hard I try to meet the expectations of what the day has given to me, the Lord is near. The Good News of Great Joy for All People declared to the shepherds is the very same news of great joy that is available to me (and you) right here, right now.

May we all, in the midst of this advent season, stop and reflect on the power found within the truth that, indeed, God is nearby and there’s hope found in His arms and salvation is His promise.

Always.