The Shepherds • Devotion 6

It is Personal
Caleb Jones

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’” Luke 2:8-15

My prayer for this devotional is that it would fall into the hands of someone who relates to the shepherds. So who are the shepherds? Why are they in the story of Jesus?

Have you ever felt disconnected? Unloved? Unwanted? Always on your own? Misunderstood? I think that is who the shepherds were. They were always on the outside of society.

So, why would they be in this story? I struggled to process this. As a kid, I saw them in every nativity set. Part of me thought the sheep wanted to go see the Messiah just as much as the shepherds wanted to. Maybe that was just the kid in me as I paid attention mostly to the animals. Yet, as I read verse 9, I feel like I start to understand. An angel of the Lord says that he is bringing Good News of great joy to ALL people. Growing up, I knew Jesus. I grew up in a Christian home so Jesus was someone we always talked about. I never felt I should not belong to Him. Maybe that was the lack of understanding of my depravity, but I think part of it was that I was also taught at a young age that Jesus wants me - that He loves me. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” I think oftentimes we believe wholeheartedly in that verse — for other people. However, this verse, along with what the angel told the shepherds, is helping us with two things. First, it is helping us to give grace to all people knowing that Jesus came for all men. Second, it is teaching that He came for me. It is personal.

Maybe you are reading this and you feel like you are on the mountain top with Jesus. Take some time right now thanking God for His love. Thank Him for Jesus. Pray for those who need to feel and receive this same grace.

However, maybe you are reading this and you feel alone. Maybe you feel like God has not come for you. Know that Jesus felt that too when He cried out on the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Know that Jesus came to this world to walk where you are walking right now. He has felt your pain. He has felt your grief. He has felt your loneliness. You are the very reason Christ came. He came for the shepherds. He came for the world. He came for you.