LUKE 2:10-14

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

TO PONDER

What is it about shepherds? God pulled Moses away from shepherding his father-in-law's sheep to shepherd his people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. God took David from shepherding his father Jesse's flocks to make him king over all of Israel. Now, years later and the Messiah, the Good shepherd is born in a manger in Bethlehem, and the first people to find out besides Mary and Joseph are a bunch of shepherds. Perhaps the wise men from the East got an idea on that night as they watched the night sky, but they had a long way to travel to actually encounter Jesus. The shepherds were there on the scene they were the first to meet Jesus.

Sometimes I think we forget how privileged we are to know what we know about Jesus. We are in many ways like those first shepherds who were told the news and then were the first to encounter Jesus. Now 2000 or so years later we can't say we were the first to encounter Jesus, and yet there are so many people in the world today who do not yet know Jesus, who have not hear or have maybe heard the news but not yet actually had a personal encounter with their Lord and Saviour Jesus.

Maybe that's the thing about shepherds, they know a good thing when they see it. They know where the watering holes are, they know how to lead their flocks to green pasture and safe waters. How will you shepherd the people God has given you towards an encounter with their saviour?

PRAYER: Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Please help me to be a faithful steward of the gospel and a good shepherd to the people in my life. Help me to lead people to an encounter with you so that they too may be another place where people might encounter you. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle