shepherds

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (Luke 2:15 NIV)

If man were to script the Son of God's birth, Jesus would have been born in a palace or a mansion. The news of His birth would have first been sent to one of the power brokers of the day - King Herod or Caesar Augustus.

But, God's script was different:

     no palace, but a manger surrounded by animals...

     no power brokers, but the social outcasts of the day, a band of shepherds...

They were considered untrustworthy and their work made them ceremonially unclean and as a result they could not participate in worship.

After being surprised (and terrified) by a visit from the angel of the Lord, and then a large group of angels, the shepherds were confronted with what to do with the message they heard: "Today is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). What did the shepherds do with the first announcement of the Gospel? They believed! Their immediate response was: "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about" (Luke 2:15).

They don't stop to discuss whether it's exactly according to what was written in Daniel.  They don't question if they really saw angels or if they're just imagining things because they're overworked. They don't get a religious leader to accompany them. They don't even get cleaned up! They hurry off to Bethlehem to find Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They believed all that God had told them!

What are you doing with what God has told you?  Are you acting and reacting with faith?

     Or are you discussing logistics?

     Bargaining with God?

     Nit-picking the assignment?

     Getting another interpretation?

What is God asking you to do today in faith? Just believe!

And you will be amazed at how God works in your life...

     how He works through you to reach a hurting world...

     how He spreads His message to expand His Kingdom!

- Marji "Mike" Kruger