“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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 favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14
Jesus’ physical birth was one of humble origin. Jesus’ birth was life-altering, eternity- changing, and scripture-fulfilling, yet it came without physical opulence and fanfare. Despite the degree in humility of Jesus’ physical birth, the spiritual intensity that accompanied His birth was quite grand which was felt most strongly through the shepherds’ experience. It is the heart of the shepherds’ that we emulate in the conversion process.
Angels, who do the will of God, appeared to local shepherds beaming and bursting with hope and joy and light. The shepherds saw the angels and heard their proclamation and quaked, for their dark and silent night was no longer. It quickly became a night of jittery expectation, hope and joy. Although the apparition was imposing, the shepherds tarried not, for the news of the birth of the Savior was too wonderful to miss. They had to see this promised Child. They had to see if what they’d heard was true. After seeing the Messiah with their own eyes, the shepherds left proclaiming and glorifying God’s gift, a Savior for the world.
In this account of the shepherds hastening to see baby Jesus and walking away changed, praising and glorifying God for all that He had done, we see a parallel in a Christian conversion experience.
When a lost soul finds illumination and accepts the gift of the Savior, he walks away changed, giving praise to God for His gift. The shepherds praised and glorified the Father for ALL that He had done. They realized they were witnesses to something spectacular, something wonderful, something life-altering. When a sinner finds redemption in the blood of Jesus, he is starkly aware of his personal shortcomings and the grace that God Himself has extended over his lifetime, and the convert is suddenly very thankful for ALL that God has done for him.
The shepherds praised and glorified God for what He had done in that little town of Bethlehem. The angels, the glory of the Lord shining around them, the command to go and see, all were surely shared as the shepherds shared their accounts, their testimonies.
A new convert is ecstatic and eager to share the news of his conversion. He “has seen”, in a manner of speaking, the Messiah, the Savior, and he is eager to praise and glorify the One who sent the gift and the One who shows endless mercy. A Christian ought never forget the impact of his testimony.
If lowly shepherds were chosen to welcome Christ to earth and share the news of His coming, then all people are welcome to the gift of grace and expected to share their story of mercy. Praise God for His wonderful Gift.
“ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:15-20
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Judith Cooley teaches Language Arts and Drama. Follow her Facebook page @pondervotional for more encouragement.
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