Daily Devotional

-December 22, 2020-

Good morning, happy Tuesday, Merry Christmas,

-The Birth Announcement To The Lowly Shepherds-

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”

(Luke 2:8-11).

Of all the people in the land of Israel, God choose to make known the birth of Jesus to lowly shepherds. The angels who were sent on this mission must have been shocked that God did not choose to announce the birth of His Son to rulers, or religious leaders, or any other great people of the earth. No one dares question why does God does anything. He is sovereign. He always does what is right and He has a purpose for everything.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” God so often chooses the common, ordinary people of this world to work His power through. All the glory goes to Him not to us.

The shepherds were going about their duties of caring for their sheep out in the fields at night. Everyone else were in their homes, all warm and tucked in their beds with their families. God knew these shepherds would obey and go to Bethlehem and see the newborn King. The angel told them in Luke 2:11-12, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David (who was himself a shepherd as a young lad) a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: you will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

The angel uses the word you three times in these verses to demonstrate how personal this birth announcement was for them, then of course for all Israel, and the whole world. What a blessed privilege they had to be the first to hear of the birth of Christ. They went in haste to see this miraculous and marvelous thing that the angel told them about.

Do you wonder why God would love you and make His salvation known to you? Most everyone of us are Gentiles, common ordinary people, sinners in need of a Savior. We praise God we chose to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We responded to the good news and the Lord changed our lives forever.

It is wonderful Tay the shepherds became the first evangelists. Luke 2:17 says, “And when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.” Luke 2:20 also says, “Then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” This our mission today as His witnesses and ambassadors to share with others what we have heard and seen, how Jesus changed our lives.

Have a blessed day of sharing the good news that Jesus was born to save us from our sins. He is the reason for the season. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean