THREE THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE SHEPHERDS

THREE THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE SHEPHERDS

Monday, December 28, 2015

Luke [GW] 2:8-20 Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David's city. This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will!" The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about." They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in a manger. When they saw the child, they repeated what they had been told about him. Everyone who heard the shepherds' story was amazed. Mary treasured all these things in her heart and always thought about them. As the shepherds returned to their flock, they glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. Everything happened the way the angel had told them.

The following is written from notes taken and thoughts had during Family Pastor Scott’s sermon yesterday:

  There are 3 things we can learn from the shepherds as indicated in Luke’s record. (Though today shepherds are much romanticized, they were in the lower social ranks then.)

·         They believed and courageously went to the unknown. Do we too also believe enough to breakaway from our normal environment . . . knowing from those shepherds, reading of and observing followers of Christ . . . aware that our life will be changed forever?

·          Are we willing to be as those early 2Corinthians 5:20 ambassadors for Christ, or do we much more prefer listening without creating our own book of acts?

·         Those shepherds fulfilled Romans 12:1-3 definition of godly worship. Or am I carefully doing so in the most reserved safest way I think possible or in godly trust with daring?

  Thanking Jehovah God for so loving us enough to send His only begotten Son.

  Thanking those shepherds long ago for their example.

  Thank you Pastor Scott and Becca Jones for at-risk stepping out.

EBB4