耶稣出生的那个夜晚，伯利恒附近的牧羊人正在看守羊群，突然有天使向他们报大喜的信息说：人类的救主诞生了！接着有一大队天兵同那天使赞美神，他们的诗歌自此就回荡在历史的星空中，“在至高之处荣耀归与神 ......！”
救主耶稣的到来，成就了神所有的应许。圣经说：“从来没有人看见神。只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。”（约翰福音 1:18）因着祂所作的一切，一切赞美都当归于神。
天使们还唱道：“在地上平安 ...... ”。我们的世界被国与国之间的战争、人与人之间的冲突撕裂、粉碎，我们极其需要平安。而只有透过耶稣，真正的平安才会临到这地上。我们在歌罗西书1章19-20节中读到：“因为父喜欢......藉着他在十字架上所流的血，成就了和平，便藉着他叫万有 ...... 都与自己和好了。”
华理克牧师在《标竿人生》书中的一句话，令我多年难忘：“这一切并不关乎你 ...... 而是关乎神。”当年天使之歌的结尾，说明他们明白这一点：“ ...... 归于他所喜悦的人。”是的，我们的救恩，从头至尾，都是神恩典的工作。
主我们的神啊，我们为着祢伟大的救恩，将荣耀都归给祢。愿我们也像古时的牧羊人一样，立时承认祢就是我们的救主和生命的主。奉祢的名祷告。阿们。
路加福音 2:1-15
1当那些日子，凯撒奥古斯都有旨意下来，叫天下人民都报名上册。
2这是居里扭作叙利亚巡抚的时候，头一次行报名上册的事。
3众人各归各城，报名上册。
4约瑟也从加利利的拿撒勒城上犹太去，到了大卫的城，名叫伯利恒，因他本是大卫一族一家的人，
5要和他所聘之妻马利亚一同报名上册。那时马利亚的身孕已经重了。
6他们在那里的时候，马利亚的产期到了，
7就生了头胎的儿子，用布包起来，放在马槽里，因为客店里没有地方。
8在伯利恒之野地里有牧羊的人，夜间按着更次看守羊群。
9有主的使者站在他们旁边，主的荣光四面照着他们；牧羊的人就甚惧怕。
10那天使对他们说：“不要惧怕！我报给你们大喜的信息，是关乎万民的；
11因今天在大卫的城里，为你们生了救主，就是主基督。
12你们要看见一个婴孩，包着布，卧在马槽里，那就是记号了。”
13忽然，有一大队天兵同那天使赞美神说：
14在至高之处荣耀归与神！ 在地上平安归与他所喜悦的人！
15众天使离开他们，升天去了。牧羊的人彼此说：“我们往伯利恒去，看看所成的事，就是主所指示我们的。”
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." — Luke 2:14
On the night Jesus was born, shepherds near Bethlehem were watching their sheep. Suddenly an angel told them good news: the Savior of the world had been born! Then the angel was joined by a great chorus of angels, whose song has echoed throughout history ever since: "Glory to God in the highest heaven. . . ."
The coming of Jesus, the Savior, is the fulfillment of all of God's promises. The Bible says, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known" (John 1:18). All praise belongs to God for what he has done.
The angels also sang, "And on earth peace. . . ." Our world is torn apart by warfare among nations and strife between people. We desperately need peace. Only through Christ will true peace come on earth. We read in Colossians 1:19-20, "For God was pleased . . . to reconcile to himself all things . . . by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
In The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren made a statement that has stuck with me over the years: "It's not about you. . . . It's all about God." The angels understood that when they sang the closing line of their song: ". . . to those on whom his favor rests." Our salvation, from beginning to end, is the gracious work of God.
We give you all glory, Lord God, for your great salvation. May we, like the shepherds of old, waste no time in acknowledging you as our Savior and Lord. In your name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
