Daily Devotional for Wednesday, December 17

The Shepherds Watched

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

There are so many amazing facets to the story of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you are like me, you probably have a favorite part of the story. I have two favorite details. I love it when the angel of the Lord tells Joseph, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). What an amazing statement about who Jesus is! Jesus is the Savior of mankind. I have eternal life because Jesus Christ paid my sin debt with His shed blood. Hopefully you have eternal life, too. If not, why not trust Jesus today and ask Him to be your Savior?

Undoubtedly, my second favorite part of the story of Jesus’s birth involves the shepherds mentioned in Luke 2:8. Perhaps it is partly due to the fact that I enjoy a holiday cartoon where a character comes onto the stage and recites the part of the story of Jesus’ birth that involved the angels visiting the shepherds. But the main reason I love the interaction between the angels and the shepherds is because of what the angels said. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (verse 11).

I have made this observation before, and you have possibly considered it yourself. These shepherds left their flocks to go worship the Great Shepherd. Yes, Jesus was a baby, but He was also God in the flesh (Hebrews 1:3). Above everything else you remember about this story; I hope the one thing that stands out most prominently for you is that Jesus is your Savior.

REFLECTION

Everyone can be saved because God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to save us (John 3:16).

Chris Floyd