But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
– Luke 2:19-20
Why shepherds?
Have you ever wondered why a glorious host of heavenly angels put on their best celestial choir performance for a scraggly band of sheep-keepers? Why not for King Herod? Why not show up the rulers and astound Caesar in Rome? Why go to the lowest people on society’s scale of importance?
Like Mary, we should treasure the Christmas story and ponder these questions in our hearts.
The Christmas story shows us that God’s ways are not our ways. God does not save people on the basis of their earthly importance, physical appearance, wealthy status or position. God saves people on the basis of his mercy alone, and that means that even lowly, smelly shepherds are loved by God.
Once we ponder the Christmas story, we are immediately convicted of our tendency to “write people off” when it comes to salvation.
He’s too poor.
She just doesn’t have it together.
They are too addicted to drugs.
She would never come to church.
Aren’t you thankful that God didn’t write you off? That God reached in and touched you with his salvation?
Take some time today to ponder all that God has done for you. And then ask God to bring people into your life that you can spread the good news of salvation to.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your coming at Christmas. Thank you for the salvation you have provided for a lowly, undeserving sinner like me. Help me to show forth your salvation to those around me in the coming year.
