I thought about how the shepherds were lowly people. The shepherds spent most of their time away from people, and they were probably dirty, smelly, disheveled, and not really 'presentable' to anyone - let alone Jesus. But isn't it just like God to allow us to present ourselves to Him even when we're dirty, smelly, disheveled, and not really presentable to anyone - especially Jesus!!
I thought about the shepherds and how they were terrified of the angelic appearance. Their reaction to the angels was pure fear, which is very much the way that we react when God speaks to us or nudges us into an area in which we're unsure. We react with fear - possibly because we're dirty, smelly, disheveled and unpresentable - unworthy! We tend to rationalize what we've heard and attempt to put some type of human perspective on the situation. How sweet it is though, to know that when we obey He will help us to face the unknown. It's precisely what the shepherds did - 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. Luke 2:15' Rather than run from their fear or disregard the message, they decided to go into the unknown and find out what it is that God was telling them to do. And then they praised God and gave him the glory for all that they had heard and seen! It's so simple.
I thought about the Star of Bethlehem. We all know the story of how Mary and Joseph were denied a comfy hotel room upon their arrival in Bethlehem because the place was completely filled. It's hard to believe that the inn keeper could turn away a very young, very pregnant woman rather than help her find a room. Instead, she gave birth to her baby with the cattle - the lowly, dirty, smelly, disheveled animals.
The Star led not only the shepherds to the stable, but others from far away regions. I think about how bright and bold the light must have been to allow them to find a simple stable in a very crowded city. And then I have to wonder - did others see the light? It's hard to believe that anyone could have missed something so bright. Did they seek it out? If they found the 'light' and understood, did they bother to tell anyone else or try to explain it? Or did they ignore the 'light' and go about their busy lives - too busy to notice a very young, very pregnant woman about to give birth to the 'Light of the World'?
Merry Christmas.
