Advent: Week 3

This week, as part of the Advent Celebration, the third of five candles are lit on the Advent Wreath. This is The Shepherd Candle, or the Candle of Joy.

As we sat in church yesterday morning, I found myself deep in thought about some of the aspects of the shepherds' part in the story of Jesus' birth. Take a moment to read Luke 2:8-18.

I've got to think that these weren't the cleanest guys in the world. They were probably dirty, living most of their lives outside, and smelled like sheep. And, that didn't bother them at all. When they left for Bethlehem, there is no mention of getting cleaned up. Likewise, we don't need to get cleaned up to meet with Jesus.

It doesn't say the angel or host of angels that appeared to the shepherds were flying or even that they appear in the sky, although that's how we often picture the situation.

One angel scared the daylights out of the shepherds, and got the point across. Why, then, did the whole host of angels appear? Wasn't that overkill? I don't think so. I think it served to strengthen the testimony of the shepherds later on. I think it was also a great motivator to drop everything they were doing and get going!

What'd they do with the sheep while they were gone? What a risk they took in just leaving them behind, presumably unattended. I think it goes to show that if you trust and obey what God has called you to do, he'll take care of you!

The Bible records that the shepherds "ran to the village and FOUND Mary and Joseph." The word "found" implies that they had to do some searching. They had to put some effort into it. Also, it stands to reason that it may have been that the people they came into contact with in searching for Mary and Joseph were the same people that they "told what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child" when they were leaving. They planted a seed going in. They watered that seed going out.

As dirty and grimy as they were, why were they, of all people, the first to hear the announcement of the Savior's birth? Why did the angel appear to them? They wouldn't have been the first people on any guest list to the palace. They wouldn't have been invited to any banquet or dinner party. Yet, they were the first to be invited to the birth of Jesus Christ. Why? I think their actions answer that question. The Bible says when the angels left, the shepherds said, "Come on! Let's go!" and they RAN to the village to find Jesus. They didn't wait for a couple of days, trying to decide if it was the right thing to do. They didn't wait for a couple of hours, relishing in what just happened; "Dude, that was cool!" They RAN right away! AND, they told everyone they came in contact with after that about their experience. They shared their joy! The bottom line is this: I think God chose them because He knew he could count on them to spread the word about His son.

Makes me wonder: How many awesome experiences do I miss because God knows that I will keep it to myself and not spread the word to everyone that I come in contact with or because He knows I will be to busy to notice it to begin with? There's something to think about!

Activity: This week, as you brush your teeth in the morning, pray for someone in your life who is an outcast (like the shepherds) or groups of outcasts in our world who need to experience the joy and love of Jesus. In the evening when you brush your teeth, pray for someone who needs the joy of Jesus, including yourself. You can even write the names of those people on the handle of your toothbrush with a permanent marker!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come and show us the way to salvation.