Luke 2:15-18 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (16) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. (17) And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. (18) And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
We continue for the third day talking about the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. Yesterday, shepherds in the fields, in the Israeli countryside are visited by angels to inform them of the coming of the Messiah and the Birth of Jesus.
Today in our text, the shepherds demonstrate for us an example that we all should follow. They really encapsulate for us the epitome of what we should do as a Christians. In a very condensed manner. let me give you the formula that they followed.
1. They hear
2. They Do
3. They Spread
1. They Hear: The angels appeared to them for the sole purpose of passing o information that God wanted them to know. They clearly, from their actions, took in what it is that they heard. That seems painfully obvious but so often we hear information and dismiss it for a variety of reasons. In fact, Jesus says that is one of the primary reasons why folks are not followers of his. WE hear, but don’t HEAR!
Matthew 13:10, 13-15 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? .....(13) Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (14) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: (15) For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
2. They Do:
Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
The shepherds, IMMEDIATELY after the angels left, knew they had to act upon the information they heard. They did not wait to see what happened. They did not wait for a convenient time. They did not take a poll of others to see if it was worth while. They simply had to go and see for themselves. They ACTED!
3. They Spread:
Luke 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Once they heard, they acted, and once they acted and were convinced of the information, they simply could not stop from sharing the good news.
This simple yet powerful formula is exactly what we are to do when we hear about the good news of Jesus. Let us have the courage to truly hear what God has to say and not just hear the parts that feel comfortable. Once we do, I hope that we have the courage to do what it is that is imparted in God’s word. And once we personally act, we need to have a love and compassion for others that we tell them about what we have heard and done!
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