Shepherds Worship and Witness

Chuckle: On a cold day down in Tennessee, they were having a baptism in the river. The Preacher asked one man, 'Is the water cold?' 'Naw!' he replied. One of the deacons shouted, "Dip him agin Preacher, he's still lyin!"

Quote: “God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life – abundant and eternal.” –Billy Graham

                              

“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened. which the Lord has told us about.’ They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a manger. Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said" (Luke 1:15-20 NLT).

Just imagine what went through the minds and hearts of these humble shepherds after their encounter with angels and then finding the baby Jesus there in a manger? Their joy and excitement is evident by their reactions following their seeing the baby Jesus. Experiencing a face-to-face with the Savior of the world should likewise fill our hearts with that same joy, excitement, and gratitude that filled the hearts of those shepherds.

This Christmas season, what is your level of joy? Perhaps your joy is being pushed aside and instead you feel stressed, rushed, tired, frustrated because of all the activities you have allowed to fill your life. We all need to put aside the hustle and bustle long enough to experience the joy and peace of Christmas.

Not only were the shepherds filled with joy, they could not wait to share the good news with others. It should be the same with us today. We have been entrusted with the best news ever and it is terribly selfish of us if we fail to share the good news of Jesus Christ at every opportunity. I am reminded of what Peter and John said when they were commanded by religious leaders to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. They said, "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20 NLT). Wouldn't it be wonderful if each of us was motivated as were the shepherds, and Peter and John, to share the good news with others.

The shepherds understood that the coming of the promised Messiah is the central and paramount reason to praise God. It serves to remind us that God is worthy of our worship and praise. If you have experienced the new birth through faith in Jesus Christ, you have every reason to worship and praise God as did the shepherds. It is my prayer that this Christmas will be a worshipful and praise-filled time for you and your family.

Love, Jerry & Dotse