Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Listen to the Word

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."    (Luke 2:15)

One of the many surprises of Christmas is that the first people to hear the news of the birth of Jesus are a bunch of shepherds working third shift in a pasture. They are the ones who get the scoop on the biggest breaking news since "Let there be light." You wouldn't expect God to tell his angels, "I'm doing something really big! Make sure the shepherds are in the loop on this!" Shepherds are as average as you can be. When third graders in Bethlehem have to write stories about what they want to be when they grow up, nobody picks "shepherd." Shepherds live in a field, they don't smell great, they are ritually unclean. There is nothing wrong with shepherds, but there is certainly nothing extraordinary about them.

It is clear that Christ didn't just come for the pretty ones and the pious ones and the powerful ones. He came for everyone. Even shepherds. Even you.

Live the Word

Write down two simple words: "for me." Ponder the fact that Jesus didn't just come to earth for people in general. He came for you!