Seeking humble hearts

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  –Luke 2:8-12 (ESV)
 
The shepherds were minding their own business, doing their job, with no awareness or expectation that anything special was about to happen. Their humble normalcy was shattered by the appearance of an angel announcing the birth of the Christ, followed by an invitation to go and see Him! As soon as the announcement was out of his mouth, that angel was joined by many more heavenly beings who showed up to praise God. What a song that must have been!
 
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  –Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)
 
Does it seem odd that the first ones to learn of the arrival of the Savior, other than His mother and godfather, were these herdsmen in a pasture? Why would God choose them? Well, I don’t know…. Why were His parents peasants? Why was He born in a stable? Why was there a cloud of illegitimacy surrounding His birth? Why would He ultimately die a criminal’s death?
 
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”  –Luke 2:15 (ESV)
 
Their response was to take the angel at his word, and immediately go and see the Promised One. On confirming His presence, they began to spread the word to all who would listen. Then they came back to the stable to worship, amazed that God had chosen to honor them in such a way. I like to imagine what might’ve happened next: That night changed the world; did it change their life?
 
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 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 2:16-20 (ESV)
 
Our Lord is humble, and He seeks out humble hearts. If you are reading this today, you too have heard the “good news of great joy that will be for all the people”. Receive it humbly. Share it gladly. Celebrate it exuberantly.