The Shepherds

I was inspired, again, by the story of the Shepherds as recorded in the second chapter of Luke in the Bible.

As I imagine it, the night skies would have been quiet with no cars driving by, no jet planes flying overhead, and no music blasting in anyone’s air pods. None of the shepherds were on instagram scrolling through their feeds, or receiving text messages, emails, or notifications of any kind. Perhaps a predator would come periodically hunting for a meal, but other than that, quiet. It would be a peaceful, calm, and reflective evening, night after night after night after night after night after night after night after night after night... after night.

Then, something extraordinary happened.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them” (Luke 2:9).

Their response? Fear. Terror, actually!

The angel told them about the Good News for all people: “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord” (v. 11).  After a massive choir of angels glorified and praised God, the shepherds decided to find this baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a... manger?! They said: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about” (v. 15).

We are told that after they cast their eyes on Jesus, “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” (vv. 17, 18). They returned home, glorifying and praising God! Everything changed for the shepherds. From a quiet, regular, routined existence they were transformed into evangelists who couldn’t keep quiet about this Jesus that they had seen with their own eyes and experienced for themselves!

This is my story about Jesus. When I cast my eyes on Him many years ago, nothing was the same again. My life is His and in His hands until the day that I leave this earth and one day enter into eternity with Him.

Friends, I encourage you to cast your eyes on Jesus this Christmas season. Celebrate Him, read about Him, talk about Him, talk to Him, and give your heart to the One who gave His very life, so that you and I could be forgiven, cleansed, and freed from the consequences of our sin. You can, today, experience true LIFE and be in relationship with your Creator, walking on a new path filled with hope and purpose.

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Merry Christmas and may God bless you and yours this Christmas season.