And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. — Luke 2:8

In the same sentence, the Lord’s glory and shepherds are mentioned. In Israel, shepherds had a great history. Abraham, Moses, and David were all famous shepherds, and Psalm 23 says that God is a great shepherd. At this point in Israelite history, though, they were not very well thought of. They had the smell of sheep. They were with sheep all the time. They weren’t very clean or religious, so they couldn’t be called spiritual. So, when God chose to use angels to tell shepherds about the birth of Jesus, he made it clear that everyone is loved by God, that everyone can talk to God, and that everyone is wanted by God.

 

Thought

In the same sentence, the Lord’s glory and shepherds are mentioned. In Israel, shepherds had a great history. Abraham, Moses, and David were all famous shepherds, and Psalm 23 says that God is a great shepherd. At this point in Israelite history, though, they were not very well thought of. They had the smell of sheep. They were with sheep all the time. They weren’t very clean or religious, so they couldn’t be called spiritual. So, when God chose to use angels to tell shepherds about the birth of Jesus, he made it clear that everyone is loved by God, that everyone can talk to God, and that everyone is wanted by God.

 

Prayer

Holy and All-Powerful God, I have to tell you that sometimes how I treat someone depends on how they look and how they are known. But today, I realize how much you want everyone to know about your grace in Jesus. Give me the desire to love everyone and the heart to share your grace with them. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.