The Shepherds…….. Chose to Overcome their Fear

Luke 2:8-20

The words, “shepherds watching their flocks by night,” paint an idyllic picture of peace and beauty that we associate with the Christmas season. The reality of  shepherds’ lives during Jesus time, however, was far from idyllic. 

Shepherds were the social outcasts of Jesus’ day. They were considered thieves and blamed when sheep came up missing from the flock. Living out of doors 24/7 meant they were filthy and smelled like sheep and all that goes with them. The duties of their job brought them in daily contact with insects, blood, feces and carcasses of animals which made them ceremonially unclean.

Being rejects, losers, mistrusted and despised, it is not too hard to imagine that they might have had much to fear from life and others around them.

 

What is your greatest fear this Christmas? Do you fear the expense, the tension of seeing certain family members or perhaps you fear buying the wrong gift?

 

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  

Sometimes as we go about our daily life, God steps in and does something that surprises or even scares us. That’s what happened to the shepherds

How has God surprised you recently? Has this “surprise” been a welcome one or has it caused you to be fearful of what it might mean? In what way(s) are you afraid?

 

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The angel’s first words to the shepherds were “Do not be afraid.” Those are God’s words to us, also. The shepherds did not need to be afraid because the angel had great news for them.

Is it possible that God also has good news for you? What good might come from the “surprise” God has given you?

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

The shepherds heard the news and decided to act upon what they heard. In spite of their fear, they chose to see if what the angel said was true.

 What will you do about the “surprise” God has given you? How will you find the good news that God has for you?

  

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

           

The shepherds found that God’s word, spoken through the angel, was true. They celebrated by telling everyone they met.

 

How will you respond when God’s word comes true? Will you share the good news with others?

 

Because the shepherds chose

to overcome their fear, they saw Jesus.

Will you?

 

Next time we will see what the wise men had to choose…