21ST OCTOBER
THE MESSAGE
“…There were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock
by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them…”
(Luke 2:8-9)
Usually, shepherds lead their flock into the pens at night so they can sleep but they could be attacked by lions and other wild animals even in their pens. Mountain lions are known to attack sheep more at night and kill many. Most often the shepherds are awake during the day herding the sheep across the plains, leaving the sheep open to attack during the night when the shepherds sleep.
In some places, at night, shepherds put their sheep in thorn bush enclosures
which the lions cannot penetrate but the lions sometimes circle the thorn bush, create panic among the sheep, causing them to stampede out and are
attacked. There was a case in which just a single lion attacked a herd of ewes and killed 192 in one night!
We are not told but let us assume that these good shepherds were out in the
fields diligently awake to watch over their flock to protect them from these
mountain lions. What a sacrifice! In the midst of diligence, dedication and
sacrifice – despite the difficulties and challenges of life – God reveals Himself to His children.
These shepherds would be the least set of people to be expected to receive
the message of the birth of our Messiah but they did. Do not disqualify yourself because of your circumstances. If our job is cleaning, let us clean diligently and if a chief executive, let us do same. When the angels appeared to them, the shepherds were afraid but that changed to joy they went with haste and enthusiasm to behold the Saviour. Do we go to our Saviour in prayer and his Word with haste and enthusiasm? When they had seen him, they spread the news. How are we spreading the good news of the gospel?
ACTION: Remain diligent in God’s service and personal occupation, even as
you await divine breakthrough or direction on what to do next.
PRAYER: Lord, grant me grace to seek you daily in prayer and the Word; and help me to share the gospel with joy.