We left off with the Shepherd guys on the hillside receiving
a message from God’s angel messenger with the glory of God shining and surrounding
them. The most beautiful, wonderful,
glorious baby reveal message is being delivered to these dirty, plain, smelly
men who watch sheep.
The angel tells them where the baby is located, “this
will be a sign unto you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger.” This was a very subtle
communication that they would need to leave and go find this baby. YOU will find…. YOU will have to go look, YOU
will have to stop what you are doing and…go.
This is exactly what we have to do today. Stop what you are doing, stop being busy,
stop making the next plan, just stop and go find the Savior. He’s there.
He’s always available, no longer a baby, he’s our loving Savior and
Lord, but we need to stop and spend time with him, go seek him. In the endless mundane of life, the rush of
the holiday season, the never ending work load, the laundering, vacuuming, the
doctor visits, we must stop what we are
doing and go spend time with Jesus.
Now while these wholly guys are processing this message – there
is a SUDDENLY. I love this word, suddenly, as Scripture reveals that suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising
God. I can’t even imagine. Tears, awe, shock, belief, unbelief, joy and
the amazing realization that God is authentic and real. What does a heavenly choir company sound
like? How incredible to have your world
changed instantly as you understand just an inkling of the magnificence of
God?
“Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests”
The heavenly hosts proclaimed the message of the ages – the Savior
had arrived.
Then quiet.
The angels
departed and the night sky returned. The
shepherd guys looked at each other and didn’t waste a moment (this was bigger than a caffeine rush) . They said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Now don’t miss this part either; first, they
knew that the city of David meant Bethlehem.
They didn’t have to google it, or have a discourse about the location or
find a map. Secondly, there was no doubt
that this message was from the Lord. No
doubt. They understood the urgency and
in verse 16 it says they hurried off and found Mary, Joseph and the baby in the
manger – just as they were told.
I don’t know who kept watch over the sheep while they
departed for Bethlehem. I would not want
to be the one who drew the short straw.
This was huge. Maybe this night
the sheep were on their own, but it was clear to the shepherds, they needed to
see the Savior of the world, tonight.
Here is the second thing I learned from the Shepherds –
it comes from verse 17. “When they had seen him, they spread the
word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it
were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” They sought him immediately and didn’t
keep silent about the message of the Christ child. What a magnificent night. What amazing news! After the long silence, God revealed in the
reflection of the night that he had sent the Savior and all that was foretold
was true. They shared with everyone all
that they had seen and heard and witnessed with joy. Can you image hearing their story?...the
amazement of the town? Maybe even the
audacity that this was revealed to these
guys? Would you go check it out
too?
When we have the best news anyone can hear – the message of
Christ, do we share it with those around us?
Do we back down or keep quiet because it might offend others or put them
off? Do we keep quiet, unsure of how to
share the message of love and great grace?
The shepherds weren’t worried about what people would think. They hurried to see what this message from
heaven was all about and when they saw it, they shared it with everyone.
We need to possess this same great joy, this exuberance,
this desire to tell everyone of the Savior.
Remember too, this message they shared was face to face. And that is how we should share Him too. The shepherd guys would have been familiar to
the town’s people, they had family there, they provided sheep for the temple,
they shopped and traded in the village so they were not strangers with an odd
message, they were trusted sheep herders who faithfully watched their flocks
and lived on the hillside day after day.
Build relationships, build trust and love and share the good news that
fills the pages of the Bible. We don’t
have angelic revelations and heavenly hosts singing in our night sky, (it would
be awesome, huh?) but we do have the greatest message that can be shared
written down and in our hearts. Some of my deepest conversations with God happen
on long walks nearby a field not far from my home. Then some of my sweetest conversations with
neighbors happen at my kitchen table or in town about the greatness of
God.
Consider this: Men tend to multiply duties in their observance of religion. This practice enables them to give Me (God) money, time, and work without yielding up to Me (God) what I desire the most - their hearts. Rules can be observed mechanically. Once they become habitual, they can be followed with minimal effort and almost no thought. These habit-forming rules provide a false sense of security, lulling the soul into a comatose condition. (Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, December 6)
Some of the most stinky, smelly, obscure guys on earth first
shared the good news of the gospel. We
should do no less.
No comments:
Post a Comment