The Missionaries

Luke 2:15-18, NKJV:

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. (boldface mine)

The first missionaries were these humble shepherds.

After the angels had announced the Saviors birth, these men went and saw with their own eyes this little Child, lying in a manger. What was it they saw, I wonder, that made them bold enough to tell people, "Hey, angels told me! And I saw the Kid!"

Now, I admit that I think that the heavenly host of angels glorifying God and announcing His Savior would have made me pretty bold... But I, in this day and age, have so much more than that! The shepherds didn't know that Jesus would grow up and be sacrificed for their sins. They didn't know He would perform the miracles He did. They didn't know He would rise from the dead!

I do.

And yet, these simple men went out and told people what they knew! They gave reason for the hope within them - and it was so much less of a Hope than I have. I have a thousand reasons more to proclaim Him and to spread the joy of His birth throughout the world than they did.

Father in Heaven, thank You! I thank You over and over, and through all eternity I will thank You for the gift of Your beloved Son to an undeserving humanity. Thank You that He loved me enough to be born into this world. Thank You that He loved His people to endure the humiliation, the rejection, the injustice, and the pain to buy us back from the kingdom of darkness. Thank You for Your infinite grace and mercy and justice. Help me, Lord, I pray, to live according to Your Word out of love and gratitude to Your Son and in the power of Your Spirit, and to spread the Good News far and wide.

The Savior is born! Alleiluia!

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Comments

[The Red Queen]

1.

Thanks for the insight. I had never thought of the shepherds as being the first missionaries. It is amazing to think that one baby's birth has been the catalist for so much change in the world, and it allows me to say that "I know my Redeemer lives!" Be Blessed today Sis