Advent Daily Devotional - Day 13
"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen." Luke 2:20
I wonder why the shepherds were the first people to visit Jesus. The shepherds, because of their job, would be outside the town for weeks at a time, protecting and caring for the sheep. These shepherds drew the short straw having to work the night shift, risking their lives for a load of smelly sheep against thieves for less than minimum wage. And, because they were out in the fields so much, shepherds were often left out – they were off the grid and far from people’s minds.
But on this night of Luke 2, everything changes - the shepherds found Jesus…. just like the angels said, in Bethlehem, in a manger, wrapped in rags. Everything was just as heaven proclaimed to them earlier. God had not lied. God truly did invite them! God had eternity to decide who to invite when He was born, and He chose them!
So after finding Jesus, what did the shepherds do?
These shepherds went back praising God. Why? They went back to their hard job, with poor pay and antisocial hours…. they were still away from their families, it’s not like they got a new life - a new car, a new job, a new house, all their debts paid…. why the difference?
We cannot come to Jesus and leave the same.
Those shepherds knew that night that God saw them: they were not forgotten, they had not fallen through the cracks, they were not an embarrassment to God, they knew that because of that job, that long night shift, God Himself moved heaven and earth to tell them personally that He saw them, and loved them.
God’s Word was true even to them. God doesn’t ask that you clean yourself up before you come to Him, He just asks and pleads that YOU come, in haste so you too can know that you are loved by God.
This Christmas, may you come to Jesus and have an encounter that will not leave you the same.
Questions…
Reflect on a recent or past encounter with Jesus – how has it changed you? Was your response full of awe, gratitude, and worship?
How can you press into more of God’s presence this Christmas?
Today's devotional was written by Jo Foster.