Shepherds

Shepherds have a lot to do with Christmas... they were the first to hear the good news. Even today there was a front page article in USA Today about shepherds and how they live much today during the Christmas Season herding their sheep just as they did back when Jesus was born. I was impressed with the news USA Today carried. They even included Luke 2:8 and 9a on the front page with the article. How's that for front page news and recognizing Christmas with Jesus' birth!

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them..."

It goes on to say this in Scripture, "and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you. You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" So it was..."

Luke 2:8-15

So the shepherds talked it over among themselves and without missing a beat they left to go see this child born to be King. When they arrived in Bethlehem they saw Jesus and without a second thought they spread the good news of what they were told by the angels and what they had seen with their own eyes, a Babe lying in a manger for they knew.

What did they know? It's a heart thing. Even today. We may not see the Babe for real lying in a manger, but what we can see is the love of God. The world even comes alive this time of year because of love and joy and peace and giving! These are from God through Him - Jesus - and we can know like the shepherds did that He is the One true living God and receive Him as King! Our King! When we do, we know it in our heart and then we, too, go and share Him with others.

Happy Christmas Eve Day to you!