The Lowly Shepherds
Read: Luke 2:8-9
Reflect: Shepherds were considered very lowly in Bible times. Why did the angels appear to the shepherds?
Request (Prayer): Give thanks to God for sending Jesus for any who need Him!
The birth of Jesus Christ is a big event not only on the Christian calendar, but in the entire event of history. The virgin birth is crucial to Christianity, and here we see that this baby, Jesus, King of the Jews, was not revealed to kings, princes or world-rulers, but rather the great news of Him being born was revealed to lowly shepherds.
Shepherds, in the time of Christ, were not considered men worthy of an opinion. No one cared about them, no one thought of them as even people worthy to be a citizen in the city, yet of all people that God could have revealed this great news to, He revealed it to shepherds.
A shepherd then is like a trash man today. No one wants that job, no one really thinks highly of them, they are just some other person at the bottom of the totem pole.
What is the reason for Jesus to be revealed to shepherds of all people? This was an act of humility. Sure God, the Creator of the world could have revealed Himself to kings all around the earth but He didn’t. This is a great picture of how we too should be humble.
So often we seek the approval from our friends and family, but that shouldn’t matter to us. We desire to be known to everyone around us, we desire the attention yet God is showing us that life isn’t all about getting attention and being the coolest person. In fact He tells us the opposite.
Who wouldn’t want to be known by kings and rulers of other countries that you were being born? You would want everyone to know, yet Jesus was only known to a few shepherds.
If there be anything that we learn from this, it is that we need to be humble like Christ. James 4:6 says, “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud , but gives grace to the humble.’” Do you want to receive grace from God? Do you want to seek favor from the Lord? Then humble yourself, and follow God. He will give you the grace you need when you realize your need for Him.
