Focus
Close your eyes and open yourself as you relax into a peaceful state. Be willing to expose yourself for who you are as God created you to be. Breathe deeply as you prepare to hear God’s Word.
Read
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
Reflect
More What ifs come to me after reflecting on today’s scripture:
- What if the shepherds had not chosen their line of work?
- What if the angel had not come to the shepherds first to proclaim the good news of a child being born and given them specific instructions as to how they would find the child?
- What if the shepherds not believed the angels that night? Who would have taken their place as the first evangelists to share the good news of great joy that was for all the people?
As one of my former professors used to say, “Just a question!”
Pray
Lord we thank you for your Love. We thank you for the lowly shepherds who answered your call by faith. Thank You for being there with us in our comings and goings throughout our journey. Through Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Go with God.
