Mini series - The Cast of Christmas - Day 3 shepherds

 

Imagination time again! Don't you just love using your imagination?! haha

 

So you're a shepherd, just minding your own business, taking care of your animals. Maybe you were resting, while the animals were grazing.

"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:8) 

 

When all of the sudden you see an angel. You hardly see anything other than your animals and pastures and night so this was a shock to you. You're scared of what this figure may say or do to you. Why would anyone be visiting you, especially at this time?

"And angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened" (Luke 2:9).

 

You calm down a bit because, "the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' "(Luke 2:10-12) Not only did they see one angel, a multitude of angels appeared and were praising God, saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased" (Luke 2:14).

 

You then decided, along with your friends, that you had to go see this child...this King. You and your shepherd friends find yourselves at the inn where the baby Jesus laid in a manger just like the angel had spoken of.

"When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told by them by the shepherds" (Luke 2:17-18).

 

You were amazed and left changed.

"The shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them" (Luke 2:20).

 

It dawned on me that the shepherds were like their animals...they followed Jesus. Throughout the Bible, Jesus is thought of as the Great Shepherd. He is the one who leads and guides us. This night, however, the shepherds weren't only leading their animals, but they were being lead by Jesus. I know they left changed that night...I mean, how could they not?

 

We learn from these shepherds to get up and follow Jesus. May He guide us throughout our lives and may we praise Him for all He does for us.