December 20, 2022

Luke 2:8-20  (HCSB)
The Shepherds and the Angels
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.” 16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

Rob Burdette, Director of Missions - Robertson County Baptist Association
The shepherds are a great picture for us as believers.  The story starts with them minding their own business when Heaven breaks into their regular life and makes them a part of the story. God brings them into His story and what He is doing. They are overwhelmed by God’s glory and receive this message, “A Savior, the Messiah is born!”. They are told to look for a baby in a manger and by faith they set out. They find the baby Jesus just as they had been told. God had been completely faithful to His Word and done everything that He had promised. And in reaction to this, verse 17-18, the shepherds tell everyone what they had heard about the Child. They are the first witnesses. The message they received, they passed onto others.  When we come to Jesus by faith like the shepherds, our story gets to become a part of His story. God allows us to join what He is doing and we get to share with others the message of that first Christmas, that Good News for all mankind has come!