When they (the shepherds) had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child…The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:20 (NIV-parentheses mine)
Imagine for just a moment, some dark quiet hill above Jerusalem. Shepherds gather around the fire to keep warm, contented, and sleepy after a good meal cooked over the campfire. One of the shepherds plays the flute as stars twinkle in the dark sky above. A lamb bleats, its mother responds.
Suddenly, the sky lights up as though it’s on fire. An angel stands among the group and God’s glory shines all around the shepherds. Terrified, they cower and tremble. The angel reassures them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news; a Savior has been born.” All at once, an angelic choir joins the angel and bursts into song; “Glory to God in the heavens and peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
The shepherds don’t think twice about rushing off to find the Savior of whom the angel spoke. After beholding and worshipping the One about whom the Scriptures foretold, they immediately share the news with anyone and everyone—God’s first missionaries.
Once they finally returned to the hillside above Bethlehem, they were still the same men on the outside; they looked the same, had the same names, and had the same occupation. But they were transformed on the inside. Their life would never be the same because they had seen the Savior. That’s what happens when you meet Jesus.
Thought: “We are being changed. Our thoughts are being rearranged. And we will thank God He didn’t let us just stay the same.” – Lysa Terkeurst