Daily devotion – humble shepherds
Luke 2: 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.
How did God choose to give these humble shepherds the greatest announcement in history – Jesus is Coming – born of virgin in Bethlehem?
By choosing these blessed shepherds to be the first audience to an angelic choir and the announcement of the Messiah, God revealed His grace through the heralding angel toward all mankind.
A shepherds work not only made them ceremonially unclean, but it kept them away from the temple for weeks at a time so that they could not be made clean. God does not call the rich and mighty; He calls the poor and the lowly!
1 Corinthians 1: 26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
Messiah Jesus came to be both the Good Shepherd – John 10 – and the Lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of the world – John 1:29.
It has been said that these shepherds could have been caring for the flocks that would provide the sacrifices for the temple services.
It was fitting that the good news about God’s Shepherd and Lamb be given first to humble shepherds who cared for the offerings to be presented to God.
Consider how privileged we are. like these humble shepherds, that we too have heard the good news of the Child born King in Bethlehem.
This Christmas, let us therefore be like the shepherds that first Christmas night, not only share the good news of the Christ, but also let us rejoice as they did, that God Himself has revealed this news to us!
Let this Christmas be filled with thanksgiving and awe!