Daily Devotional for Thursday, December 18

The Shepherds Wondered

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord,” Luke 2:10, 11.

We live about ten minutes from the airport. At night, it is very difficult to see any stars. We joke that the stars of DFW are the airplanes and the cowboys. When we travel to stay with family, it is almost jarring to look up and see so many tiny lights shining from outer space. I can only try to imagine the millions of visible stars and the navy night sky as the shepherds kept watch over their flocks in the open fields outside Bethlehem. Their night was ordinary, probably quiet and calm, until heaven opened before them. An angel, radiant with God’s glory, delivered a message that changed history.

After the shock and fear, the shepherds must have wondered at the angel’s words. Why would God choose them, the lowly, unseen, often disregarded, to be the first to hear of the Messiah’s birth? As we know, God’s ways are not our ways. He delights in revealing His glory to the humble.

Overwhelmed by the angel’s message, the shepherds did not hesitate. They rushed to Bethlehem to see the newborn King. Their wonder turned into worship, and they became the first evangelists of the gospel, the good news, glorifying and praising God as they shared what they had seen. Like the shepherds, we, too, are invited to marvel at the birth of Christ. His arrival is still the good news for us today. He came to bring salvation, to shine light into our darkness and to offer peace to all who believe. Have you taken time to truly wonder at the miracle of Jesus’ birth? This Christmas season, let us not only hear the message, but respond with faith, joy and worship, just as the shepherds did.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The wonder of Christmas is not just in a manger scene. It is in the Savior who came for you.

Ashley Ridings