The Shepherd's Good News (Part 2)

The Shepherd's Good News (Part 2)

Do you know the feeling of not being on the inside where “important” things are happening just like the shepherds?

Well, the “gospel” of Christmas says that in God’s eyes you are on the inside. Listen:

-You may think of yourself as someone who is on the “outside” of things looking in. 

-You feel kind of “out in the cold” as you look in on people who are successful and people who seem to have it together.  

If so, this part of the Christmas story should be very encouraging good news!  I imagine that many nights as the shepherds sat out in those cold, lonely fields, with nothing but dumb animals to keep them company, that they looked over at the village of Bethlehem, saw the lights of the homes and heard the faint sound of families, and they they wished they could be a part of that. Maybe you’ve felt that way too. You've felt you were not one of the “beautiful people” not especially wealthy or powerful or influential and not likely to see your name in the paper for some great accomplishments. If you feel that way then I have good news-God loves you! He values you more highly than He does the life of His only Son! 

You:

-may be unimportant in the eyes of most people or you may be very important.

-may be a mere “cog in the machine” at your place of employment or the CEO.  

-may be near Christ raised in a Christian home or far from Him and reared in a home or culture where the name of Jesus is never even mentioned. 

-may own your home; you may rent your home; you may not have a home. 

None of those things matter for the simple reason that Jesus did not come to be the Savior of only some. He came to be the Savior of all mankind.

Many times people tend to localize or “culturalize” religion. They say that Buddism or Hinduism is for the Asiatic races, that Islam is for the people of Arabia, and that Judaism is for the Jews.  Some people over the years have even embraced the ignorant belief that Christianity, with its Christmas story, is only for certain people.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea for everyone.  As the angel told the shepherds, their good news that night of nights was “for all people.”  Christmas is not just for one race or ethnic group but for all-red, yellow, black and white, because no matter how different we may appear to be on the outside we are the same on the inside. All of us have the same inner need for a Savior.  

Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”  

1Timothy 1:15 says that “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.”

Looking at the shepherds’ experience reminds us that all people are important to God. He sent His only Son because He loves all of us!