Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Ten: The Shepherds’ Response to Hope
“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.” 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 2:15-20
go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to
us.” 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 2:15-20
Every good moment needs a hype person. When you’re playing your favorite sport and crushing the other team, how great is it to see your friends and family cheering you on from the sidelines? As you work up the nerve to talk to someone who interests you, isn’t it a great feeling to have your best friend giving you an extra boost of confidence? Of course! Hype people make awesome moments even better.
After hearing the Good News from the angels, the shepherds immediately travel to see baby Jesus and His parents. Overwhelmed with excitement over this newborn King, they spread the Good News about Him to anyone who would listen.
The shepherds’ willingness to follow God’s command is documented in the Christmas hymn “Rise Up Shepherd and Follow.” One line says, “You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds; rise up, shepherd, and follow.” The author of the Scripture this song was written on does not specifically say if the shepherds took their flocks with them on their search for baby Jesus. However, this song lyric provides a poetic way to think about the shepherds’ dedication to the Savior. Shepherds were known for their deep care of their
flocks. To either leave their flocks behind or take them on a long journey to see Jesus illustrates how important He is to them above all else.
flocks. To either leave their flocks behind or take them on a long journey to see Jesus illustrates how important He is to them above all else.
Naturally, these shepherds are hype men. As soon as they meet Jesus face-to-face, they can’t help but tell everyone they see the amazing news that we have a Savior who is always worth celebrating. The exciting part is that we can be hype people, too! After experiencing what Jesus has done for us and knowing Him personally, we can share this amazing news about our Savior.
Questions:
1. What is something you are passionate about sharing with others?
2. Who are a few friends that you can share the Good News of Jesus with this week? Write their names down in a journal or on the notes app on your phone. Then, spend a minute praying that God would give you the courage to share with them this week.