“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” 

Luke 2:15-16

I encourage you today to take an extra minute to read through verse 20. In some respects, it would be nice to be like the shepherds. Although looked down upon by their society, shepherding was and is an honorable and important occupation. These particular shepherds had something going for them; they were chosen for an audience with angels and to be the first to welcome the Messiah into this world. If a similar circumstance were to arise, I’d like to think that I would at least be a candidate for a special announcement, but I doubt it. I’m not as open and available as those shepherds. My day is planned, my routine is set, and if something interrupts, my plans don’t get completed. If helping others celebrate Christmas were not a part of my job, December itself might be considered an interruption. In a way, that takes after Scrooge, the demands of Christmas certainly don’t fit in the routine of the rest of my year.

“My day, my job, my plans, my year.” “My” might be the root of the difference. Those shepherds were not distracted by their plans for the evening. When the angels spoke, they listened and responded. It didn’t matter what their expectations of the Messiah might have been. It didn’t matter that they were just lowly shepherds. They received the news and went to see. “Hey! If an angel chorus dropped into my night sky I’d listen and respond, too,” you might say. That is not necessarily true. The Pharisees met the adult Jesus, heard His words and saw His miracles, but they did not listen and respond positively. He most definitely messed with their plans, and He was not the Messiah they expected. They were sure they would be in their Messiah’s vanguard, not a bunch of Galilean fishermen.

I’m afraid I might be like the Pharisees, too, but I want to be like the shepherds. If God speaks, I want to hear. If He tells me things aren’t the way I expect them to be, I want to be okay with that. When He makes an announcement, I want to be willing to drop everything and go see.  I want to respond to God with worship. The only question is, will I? Will you? Today, consider being like the shepherds. When God lets you know what He’s up to, go with it. And when the day is done, be thankful, tell someone, and don’t forget to worship. He didn’t have to let you be a part of what He is doing.
 

Jay W. Hill