-December 4, 2021-
“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be for all the people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:10-11).
“Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” (Luke 2:20).
If you or I were going to send out a birth announcement for the King, Jesus Christ, we would send it to the local leaders, the religious aristocracy, or the wealthy or prominent of the community; but God has other plans. He knew and trusted the shepherds. The position of a shepherds in those days was not highly regarded. When you think about though several godly men and women in the Bible were shepherds. There was Abel, Jacob, Rachel, Moses, and David to name a few.
These shepherds were where they should have been — out in the fields; doing what they should be doing — keeping watch over their flock by night. They were simple, hardworking, dedicated shepherds. We would call them “blue collar workers.” We don’t know how many shepherds there were, but there likely more than two. An angel (likely Gabriel, who appeared to both Mary and Joseph), came and stood before them. The glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid. I know I would have been shaking in my boots, that’s for sure.
The angel told them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be for all the people.” This message announcing the birth of Christ was for all the Jews, Gentiles, and everyone on earth. It is for us today as well. God’s Word is for everyone and the message of the gospel, the good news is simple enough for everyone to comprehend. God’s best fruits are on the lower branches of the tree for easy access.
The angel said, “For there is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Just as we read in Micah 5:2 this week. God have them a sign: they would find the Babe, wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. Soon the angel was joined by a host of many angels praising God in song. The shepherds believed without doubt or question, and went off to see the Christ child for themselves. They were the first, other than Mary and Joseph, to see the baby Jesus. They were so overjoyed that got to see Him. There in the lowly manger, they bowed before Him.
The shepherds had one thing to do: to believe. Notice, the angel didn’t have tell them to go and see Jesus. They went on their own volition without condition. Obedience follows faith and trust. When God speaks to us, we must listen and obey. They had God’s promise, and that was enough for them. God made sure that they would find Jesus. When a person is sincere and seeking, God will bring them to Jesus. They became the first missionaries. Luke 2:17 says, “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.”
How about us? We have not seen Christ with our natural eyes but with the eyes of our hearts. Peter wrote, speaking of Jesus, “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” This verse relates well to the shepherds and to us today.
Have a blessed day and continue to enjoy this Christmas season. Stay safe and healthy.
In His grace,
Dean
comes to them
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 