God summoned His angels one day to explain His next installment of the Plan of the Ages. “And you are going to appear to a group of shepherds, as they are watching over their flocks. You’ll find them just outside the town of Bethlehem”, He said.
“Shepherds?”, one of them incredulously asked. “We’ve watched those kind of guys for years! Haven’t noticed much use for holy things among ’em, for sure. Why, you ought to hear the way some of them talk!”
“I’ve been around when some were even smoking and drinking!”, another angel chimed in. “By the time I left, I had to get something to spray on my clothes to cover that awful smell.”
One by one, on and on, they voiced their concerns to the Almighty. “After all”, they argued, “we’ve even witnessed them cussing! You just can’t trust what may come out of their mouths! Shepherds? Really? Are You sure?”
“Yes, shepherds!”, the Master Planner responded. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll continue.”
As they quietly watched and listened, He continued with the Plan. “Shepherds, though maybe a little rough and worldly, are just the kind of people I can reach. They aren’t pretentious or preoccupied with their own importance.”
Remember David? He was quite a young man when he caught My eye and captured My heart as he worshipped. He was a shepherd, remember? But he was faithful, and humble.
These shepherds I’m sending you to will repeat exactly what you tell them. My story, My plan, will be safe with them. They have no hidden agenda. They will simply respond as reporters; they’ll report and the rest of the world will decide.”
As the angels got ready to meet with the shepherds that first Christmas morning, I’m sure there was a sense of awe among them as they reflected on the words of their Master. To think that the God of the universe would choose people like shepherds to reveal Himself, His plan, and His Provision to; remarkable.
By the way, nothing has changed in this regard. The “high and mighty” never do well with an announcement such as the shepherds received. For “the humble receive from Him, but the rich go away empty.” In other words, when people think they have it all together, they don’t feel the need for something better. Folks that are full of themselves don’t make very good witnesses and reporters. Even preachers…uh, sorry. Better stick with my story.
Shepherds…probably not a clean one in the lot. But God saw them as the perfect ones to proclaim what they saw and heard; “The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.”(Luke 2:11 – 20 NLT)
Shepherds. Not saints, but, yes, good enough for God.
Jan Grace 