DAY 63 of #100daysofJesus
"I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day...a Savior which is Christ the Lord."
These are the words spoken by an angel to a group of shepherds at the time of Jesus' birth. The words were followed by "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
After the angelic visit, "the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see...And they came with haste."
I can envision them nearly running towards the town with joyful anticipation. Their long awaited Messiah had been born!
After finding Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, they couldn't keep this great news to themselves. The shepherds "made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."
And then a second time, the shepherds "returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen."
As I think about the shepherds, I can't help but smile. What a lifechanging and joyful experience!
Interestingly, shepherds were among the poorest, least educated laborers in Jewish society. They would have been among the last invited to any great event in town.
Yet, it was these poor shepherds who were visited by glorious angels, had the VIP seats to worship the newly born Messiah, and received the honor of spreading the word of His birth among the town.
God works very differently than man. The angels didn't visit the religious rulers, the noblemen, the most successful merchants, or the innkeepers. They appeared to shepherds.
Consider Jesus' ministry. He similarly did not spend much time interacting with nobility or the religious or political leaders. He ministered among the poor, sick, and humble.
Maybe we spend too much energy and effort trying to not be poor, sick and humble in our longing to be noble, successful, and a leader in the eyes of the world. I know I fall into that trap.
Perhaps greater humility would help us more easily receive our own heavenly witness of Jesus' divinity.
I'm not suggesting God loves the humble more than the prideful or the poor more than the rich. I believe all are loved with a perfect love and receive the same invitation to dine at the Savior's table. But who is more likely to accept such an invitation?
Who realizes their need for Jesus more?
There's a lesson here - do you see it?
While the innkeepers (whose business was thriving!) had no room for Him, the shepherds were waiting for their Messiah, ready to receive and worship Him, and in their humble circumstances, they gratefully partook of that miracle.
In contrast, we'll soon see that the wealthy also have a seat at Jesus' table if their focus is in the right place, even though it may take them a little longer to get there (yes, I'm talking about the three wise men).
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