When God does something for the first time, he always sets a precedent. And by that precedent, we can know him forever in that context because he does not change.

The very first public utterance about the birth of Christ was in Luke 2, 8 to 15.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them and

the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angels said to them,

don't be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you.

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God in saying glory to God in the highest

heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. When the angels had left him and gone into heaven the

shepherd said to one another, let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that's

happened which the Lord has told us about.

That declaration was made to a group of manual workers, Shepherds.

They witnessed a heavenly celebration on earth. The angel of the Lord said,

I bring you glad tidings of great joy. Two words that are connected but also distinct, gladness and joy. Gladness

the word is a giasis, means an encounter with heaven that makes you jump for joy in exultation,

makes you run around the room, exuding in exceeding joy, shouting, grinning, dancing, exulting.

The second word is Chara, and it means cheerfulness, a calm delight, a happy disposition, to be fully joyful.

Gladness is an encounter with God leading to an experience of Him, which once received becomes your new normal.

An encounter with God's gladness of heart

pulverizes any negative emotion. In the Shepherds, it cast out fear.

Think of it.

All fear is banished by celebration and leads us into an experience of cheerful, calm delight.

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