"Amazing."
"Inspiring."
"Dedicated."
"Awesome."
These words have been spoken in my direction this month. And while my face smiles and my ego boosts, my heart cringes.
Do you know?
Do you know the insults I mentally hurl?
Do you know the unkind things I think about myself...and others?
Do you know the crude things that sometimes slip past my lips?
There is One other besides me that knows all these things. And my heart cringes. But He whispers "Behold, I have made all things new!"
Not just one time either. Nope. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." ~Lamentations 3:22-23 (emphasis added).
There is one group of people in the Christmas Story that I identify with the most. "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night." ~ Luke 2:8
Did you catch that? They were living out in the fields. Words that were spoken in their direction might have been some of these: crusty. smelly. uneducated. simple. ordinary.
It seems to me that the shepherds might have been on the bottom rung of the importance ladder. That's why it thrills my soul every time I read what comes next. "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them..." ~Luke 2:9
Jesus' birth announcement didn't go out to castles. Or government officials. Or college professors. Or doctors, lawyers, or church leaders. The first people that God wanted to know about the birth of his son were crusty, smelly, uneducated, simple, ordinary shepherds.
Why?
I think it's the same reason he picked the Israelites to be his chosen people. What if he'd chosen a people group who never messed up? A group of people who followed everything he said down to the very last letter of the law? Where would that leave us? Where would that leave me? Lost and hopeless in my brokenness. I can't measure up to perfection. I don't identify with kings, presidents, brain surgeons. But I surely get crusty. I'm sometimes smelly. I've never been to college. I cook, I clean, I wipe little noses. Simple and ordinary.
Simple and ordinary shepherds didn't let their lack of social standing or education get in the way, though. No siree, bob. They were men of action. "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." ~Luke 2:15
No excuses. The Lord had told them some exciting news and they acted on it. And were blessed to be among the first people who looked into the face of God, wrapped in a baby's body. Are your shoes off? This is holy ground.
They didn't keep this news to themselves, either. "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen..." ~Luke 2:20
I can see it in my minds eye. The dark starry sky, the narrow Bethlehem streets, the cold night air. The crazy bearded smelly men running and jumping, unable to contain the joy in their hearts after seeing a baby. What were their words of praise? The Bible doesn't tell us. Use your imagination, it's more fun that way!
The Christmas miracle is Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. The baby come to set the captives free. The messiah born to redeem ALL people. Rich and poor. Young and old. Kings and shepherds.
The next time someone speaks encouraging words your way, receive them. Don't listen to the voice that condemns. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Rejoice in the knowledge that anything good flowing from you is by the power of the Holy Spirit at work within you. And that crusty stuff?
Well, Jesus came to redeem that as well.
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!"
