December 15, 2007

Shepherds, The First to Hear

Luke 2:8-15 (HCSB) ⁸ In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: ¹¹ today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. ¹² This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” ¹³ Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Jesus is born! Who does God tell first?
The kings and royalty? The priests and religious leaders?
Who?

Dirty, stinky, up all night, not fit for the temple, SHEPHERDS!

The shepherds are told about the birth of Jesus. After they experience this phenomenal expression of glorious magnitude, they say, “Let’s go see this thing!”

The shepherds understood that the excitement was not about the angels. The excitement was about the baby. The Messiah!

Sometimes we need to move our eyes away from the messenger and on to Christ.

Praise God that he chose some simple folks (like us) to share the good news!

Pray: Dear God help me to run to you when I hear the good news! Amen.

Sing: “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night”

or

"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"