For God So Loved....

As I dusted my Nativity set today, I took special notice of the shepherd figurine. While Mary and Joseph wear veils of gold and the “Three Kings” wear exotic beaded robes, the shepherd, even in the perfect scene, wears a fur vest with a nap sack slung over his shoulder. Though he stands out from the others, his gaze, like theirs, is on the new born baby.

As I look at the little group huddled together on top of my desk, I am again reminded of these simple people who make up the scene. I look at Joseph an ordinary carpenter, his hands rough from hard work, Mary just a young, innocent girl, shivering in the cold, and then there is the Shepherd. Shepherds had one of the worse jobs there was at that time and got no respect from anyone for it. It is said that they were not even able to testify in court because of their lowly station in society. Yet, God chose the shepherds to be the first to hear the “good news” that Jesus had been born.

That night started out to be like all the other nights for the motley crew, but then, the bible tells us, an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. Then as they stared dumb founded into the sky, a great company of heavenly host appeared singing “Glory to God in the highest heaven”. The eyes that were heavy with the lack of sleep were wide open now as they watched with wonder this amazing scene. Did you ever think that maybe it would have been more beneficial for the angel to appear to theologians of that day or some big wig, high up in the government? Maybe it should have taken place in Jerusalem, so many important people would see. But there is was, on a hillside with society's so-called “loosers”. Does this not show our God's love for even these?

God in His glorious brilliance, wanted us to know that our station in life does not matter as long as we accept Him and the Good News that was brought that night. The gospel belongs to us all from the lowly to the lofty.  The bible says we all have sinned and need a Savior which is Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that if we accept the Messiah, that the angels sang about, we can have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16