Greetings!
Okay, picture this. The most awesome God of our universe wants to come to earth as a baby, grow up, and show his undying love for us. So who should be the very first people to hear about this great plan? Who are the lucky people to know about this incarnation first?
Kings? Rich folk? Educated people? Synagogue leaders?
No. He chose to tell shepherds first. What? Couldn’t he leverage their social media better by having His angels appear to the religious leaders in the town square first? Why lowly shepherds?
Because...
- God wanted the world to know this good news was available to all classes.
- God chooses the humble and the things that are not to accomplish His plan.
- God knew they would willingly be the world’s first New Testament evangelists.
Can you imagine what it would be like to be outside on a dark, quiet, starry night? Then suddenly, a bright light appears along with what appear to be heavenly beings. Your thoughts are going wild. Are these aliens? Ghosts? Spirits? What in the world is happening?
Then they heard these angels talk. Yes, these superior beings talked to these lowly keepers-of-sheep. They told them to not be afraid, and that a baby, who was going to be the savior of the world, had just been born. They even told them where to find Him. If this wasn’t enough, suddenly it wasn’t just one angel, but thousands of angels appeared praising God! Talk about overwhelming!
What was their response? They packed their suitcase and left for Bethlehem on a treasure hunt. When they finally arrived, they found Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.
They were so joy-filled, so amazed and so excited, they immediately left and told everyone they knew about this baby Savior. They recounted this amazing night to all who would listen. They told of the angels, their journey, and the joy of finding Jesus!
All who listened to their story marveled! People were astonished to hear such news! This story began to travel all around the world. And it started with shepherds, God’s first New Testament evangelists.
How did this story of Jesus find you? Because faithful people were excited to tell others, who then told others, who finally told you. The reason you and I know salvation is because God used people to spread the good news of His salvation.
So what will you do now that you have seen the Babe? Will you keep Him in the manger, or keep Him inside the church? Or will you, like the shepherds, joyfully tell everyone you know what this Jesus has done for you?
