The Shepherds – The Joyful Response

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:16-20 ESV

Imagine you’ve spent your entire life as a social outcast and a religious outsider.

You’ve never accrued any significant wealth or reached a position of great influence. Now you’ve been invited by a messenger of God to the most spectacular birthday party in the history of the world—a birthday that will define and literally divide the history of the world.

How would you respond?

The shepherds response was simple yet profound.

They went with haste. They responded with a sense of urgency to God’s invitation. Throughout the gospels we see Jesus having this effect on people.

They spread the word. They could not contain the joy of the message they had heard. This is what sharing Jesus is really about, letting our joy in Jesus overflow.

They returned glorifying and praising God. God did not remove them from their life situation. They returned to their fields and sheep and that is where God placed them to worship Him.

Is there any area of your life where you are procrastinating in responding to God? How can you continue to worship God and share His joy in your life situation?