|
If man were to script the Son of God's birth, Jesus would have been born in a palace or a mansion. The news of His birth would have first been sent to one of the
power brokers of the day, King Herod or Caesar Augustus. But, God's script was different: no palace, but a manger surrounded by animals. . . no power brokers, but
the social outcasts of the day, a band of shepherds. They were considered untrustworthy and their work made them ceremonially unclean and as a result they could not
participate in worship.
After being surprised (and terrified) by a visit from the angel of the Lord, and then a large group of angels, the shepherds were
confronted with what to do with the message they heard: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). What
did the shepherds do with the first announcement of the Gospel? They believed! Their immediate response was: "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that
has happened, which the Lord has told us about" (Luke 2:15). They don't stop to discuss whether it's exactly according to what was written in Daniel. They
don't question if they really saw angels or if they're just imagining things because they're overworked. They don't get a religious leader to accompany
them. They don't even get cleaned up! They hurry off to Bethlehem to find Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They believed all that God had told them!
What are you
doing with what God has told you? Are you acting and reacting with faith? Or are you discussing logistics? bargaining with God? nit-picking the assignment? getting
another interpretation? What is God asking you to do today in faith? Just believe! And you will be amazed at how God works in your life. . . how He works through you
to reach a hurting world. . . and how He spreads His message to expand His Kingdom!
|
