Why the Shepherds?

Recently I shared the beautiful Christmas story from the book of Luke at a church women’s holiday gathering, and while practicing my recitation I found myself wondering, "Why the shepherds?" Why would God choose lowly shepherds to be the first to hear the Good News of the birth of the Savior to the world?

I know little about shepherds, except that they lived a fairly lonely life far from civilization, where their livelihood depended on the constant vigil of their flock. They may have been regarded with a lower status in society, and it’s hard to imagine their hygiene habits or if they ate regular meals.

Yet to these poor shepherds, the Lord sent His messenger angel, lighting up the night sky with the radiance of the glory of God, telling them not to be afraid! The angel spoke of the birth of the Messiah, nearby, in the city of Bethlehem.

And the shepherds left their flocks alone and hurried to the village to see the baby Jesus, wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. It was just as the angel had foretold.

But why the shepherds? From their simple lifestyle, they certainly offered a humility and humbleness that might make them more receptive to believing the truths that the angel told them. With their honest, meager living in the outskirts of town watching their flocks, surely they were not haughty or arrogant.

God chose honest men of good character to be the bearers of the news of the miracle of our Savior’s birth. Simple men who had nothing to gain by telling the story of that miraculous night, but had pure and honest reactions to the incredible events that they experienced. They could be believed.

God uses the humble, the meek and the lowly, the downtrodden and the brokenhearted. He uses us in our imperfect state. We come to Him when we are broken, lost or hurting, and through His love we are healed. Our willingness to believe that our Savior cares enough to exist in our own lives, allows God to work further in our hearts. He can use us, and He will, in the work of His kingdom here on earth.

If we are the vessels willing to be filled with His Spirit and love for His people, He will direct our steps in ways we could never imagine. It doesn’t take money or fame, just a willing heart and a complete trust in the One who leads.

God uses our imperfections to teach us His ways, and to improve our relationships with others and with Him. Talk to Him. Tell Him of your fears. Ask for His guidance. And when you are ready, say “Here I am, Lord. I am ready to serve you. Show me the path I should follow. Lead me in Your truth.” 

And then be prepared for blessings you never expected. It all begins with a humble heart and a desire to know God in ways that lead to a greater understanding of yourself and your place in this world. 

"Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you."  Psalm 25:4-5 NLT

Song of Hope

Sometimes even when there are no words, there is a song. Many times throughout my life, when a friend would encounter a certain situation, a line from a song would come to mind and sometimes I would sing it out loud.  It caught people off guard but it also let them know that I really understood what they were feeling.

In this season of my life, I love contemporary Christian music. So much of what is written speaks of our human condition and how God is bigger than all of our problems. When we have lost hope, we need to come to Him. When we are weary, sad, lonely or brokenhearted we need to come to Him.

There is a song for every life situation we experience, and often a song will come on the Christian radio station right when I am in need of reassurance or encouragement. I realize I am not alone in this experience. Somehow the song of hope we need to hear is playing for us alone.

I learned the other day that the angels never sing. How can this be? Who hasn’t imagined the angels with their harps of gold singing in the heavens in perfect harmony?  In the Bible text I find that they shout praises, they worship and praise God, but nowhere does it say that they sing.

I always hoped to sing with the angels when I got to heaven. I think that would be awesome! They spend their days endlessly praising our Lord. “I can only imagine” how wonderful that would be.

On this earth, I experience my greatest joy when I sing for our Lord. Many people tell me they feel closer to God when they sing, as if a direct channel of communication opens up between them and God. You know He hears you and is pleased - even if you sing out of tune (honestly!)

We find hope in this encounter with God.  You don’t even have to sing. Just lift your heart to Him and tell Him you love Him. And believe me, your heart will be singing.