December brings so
much that we love—beautiful music, warm gatherings, twinkling lights, and the
joy of giving. Yet in the busyness of shopping, planning, and preparing, it’s
easy to overlook the one gift that stabilizes our hearts more than anything else:
the Word of God. In the middle of all our activity, Scripture draws our
attention back to the greatest event in human history—the moment when God
became man and dwelt among us.
What makes the
Christmas story so remarkable is its unexpectedness. We might expect royalty,
dignitaries, or the elite to surround the arrival of the Messiah. Instead, we
see a humble stable, a newborn wrapped in cloths, and two poor parents doing
their best to care for Him. And the first people invited to witness this
miracle? A group of
shepherds—ordinary, unrefined, working-class men who were not highly respected
by society.
Yet God chose them. And in choosing them, God shows us that the good news of Christ’s birth
is for ordinary people—people like you and me.
They Heard the Announcement
Luke tells us the
shepherds were keeping watch at night when suddenly the sky lit up with glory.
The angel’s message terrified them, but it also opened their hearts to the
voice of God. While we may
not experience angels filling the sky, the Lord still speaks to us today. He
speaks through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, and even through ordinary
life experiences.
But like the shepherds, we must be willing to listen. Our greatest challenge today is not that God is silent—it’s that our lives are too loud. We fill our days with noise and activity, leaving little room for quietness. We make time for shopping, entertainment, and screens, yet often struggle to make space for God. The shepherds remind us that hearing God requires intentional silence, a willing heart, and a readiness to receive His message.
They Took the Appropriate Action
Hearing wasn’t enough. The shepherds responded. After the angels returned to heaven,
they looked at each other and said, “Let’s go to
Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.” They left their work,
stepped away from their responsibilities, and went to find the Savior.
Imagine the
questions they might have asked: Can we leave the sheep? What will people
think? What if we’re wrong?
We wrestle with the same doubts when God calls us to obey
or trust Him. We worry about what others will think, whether we might fail, or
whether His call will require us to change. But the shepherds show us that obedience opens the
door to joy. They followed the Lord’s leading—imperfect as they were—and found
Jesus exactly as God said they would.
God still calls us
to action today. The
message of Christmas is not just something to admire: it’s something
to respond to. The baby in the manger is the Savior who calls us to
surrender our hearts, trust His grace, and follow His leading.
They Celebrated with Joy
After seeing Jesus,
the shepherds couldn’t keep the news to themselves. Luke tells us they returned
“glorifying and praising God for all they had heard
and seen.” Their lives were changed forever. They found a joy no
circumstance could steal, a peace no possession could buy, and a love deeper
than anything the world could offer. This is still what Jesus offers to every
heart open to Him.
Conclusion
In a few weeks, the
decorations will come down, and life will return to normal. But the shepherds
show us that Christmas isn’t meant to be packed away and forgotten. It is intended
to transform us. May we, like them, hear God’s voice, take the step of
obedience, and celebrate with joy the Savior who came for us.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Lord use these words to renew your spirit.
Dr. Dimas Castillo
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