Why do they have such a central part of the Christmas story? How many times do you recall the metaphor of God being like a shepherd? Lots, here are only three of many.
Ezekiel 34:12 "As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day."
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. "
Matthew 2:6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "
Shepherds were not considered to be among the spiritual leaders of the day in fact they were considered by the spiritual leaders of the day to be no good. How ironic that their patriarchal leaders were called by God while they were shepherds...Moses and David. How quickly we can forget from where we come.
Don't believe the lies. These shepherds were watching over their flocks which means they were awake and alert and not sleeping or dozing. Out of the blue an Angel of the Lord appears and they are greatly afraid. This is the usual response to a heavenly visitor. I wonder if they thought they were in great trouble and that judgment was coming to them. After all that is what the spiritual leaders thought of them. Did they begin to believe what others thought and said of them? We too can fall into this trap set up by the schemes of the enemy. We can start believing that we are what others say we are. We believe that this is as good as it will get and this is just the life I was born to live...hopeless and barren. God, the Father came to dispel this horrible and wicked lie. He comes to all peoples to bring them "good tidings of great joy" You might be interested to know
that the Greek meaning word for "good tidings" is "to evangelize." He comes to evangelize all peoples that through an encounter with the Lord's Christ they may have great joy.Come to Jesus. The Shepherds were invited to come to Christ and this is exactly what they did. They said to one another maybe on top of each others words, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing which the Lord has made know to us." With haste they went to search out the Christ for themselves. We must search out Christ for ourselves. No one can come to Christ for us we must go to Him on our own. The invitation is for "all peoples".
Go and Tell. The Shepherds could not contain themselves they were compelled to tell Mary and Joseph and then anyone who would give them an ear.
Praise God. Their life would never be the same again. Their tasks would take on a new outlook from here on out. They would relive this event over and over again in their own heads and to all that would cross their path. They could not stop praising God. I can imagine the songs of praise they lifted on the hillsides as they overlooked the town of Bethlehem under the stars.
Don't believe the lies this Christmas whatever they may be. Believe God loves you; He demonstrated His love by putting on flesh and coming as a baby. Go and tell others of all that He has done and shone you. Praise God. Sing to Him of your love and gratefulness, make up your own song and give it as a gift to the Birthday Child.
Merry CHRISTmas!
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