Luke 2:15–18 (ESV) —
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
NOTE: God had revealed the most important event in history to a nameless group of shepherds. He had revealed to them a glimpse of heaven with a host of angels filling the night sky and singing. And they responded immediately by going to Bethlehem to see their savior, the long-awaited Messiah. And like all true believers in God, they shared their joy with all who would listen. In sharp contrast will be the religious leaders of Jerusalem, who will correctly predict the Messiah's birth location, but will make no attempt to visit and confirm, despite the visit of the wise men from the East.
I think this is still true today. The gospel is revealed to the humble and needy, and obscured to the arrogant and self-indulged. Likewise, Christ will return again. First, he will come back to rapture his saints from the wrath to come (meeting us in the air), and then, at the end of the tribulation, he will return to earth for the second time, finishing the long promised wrath to the arrogant and unbelieving.
PONDER:
- Are we ready for Christ's return?
- Are we doing all that we can to make his name known to those around us, just like the shepherds who were given a special gift of seeing the truth?
PRAYER: Father, help us to be a great witness to those around us. Help us to live in such a way that we draw people to the savior. Give us the words, the love, and the display of hope that others will see and ask about our savior.
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