Date: December 18, 2011 10:34 PM
Topic: +DEV+ The Lowest: Shepherds
The Lowest: Shepherds
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them..." (Luke 2:8-9a).
Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 1:27-31
Remember church Christmas pageant shepherds? All the spare kids wore dads' bathrobes and towels fastened on their heads. Only one fellow had to worry about memorizing a line. The shepherd role provided parts for leftover youngsters. I wonder if the actual shepherds of ancient times felt "leftover" themselves.
They were the lowest in society, rivaled only by tax collectors. The nature of shepherding meant these men and young boys were illiterate and often dirty and smelly. Accustomed to outdoor living and sleeping, they were rough around the edges. They were deemed unclean, incompetent, lazy and untrustworthy. Some actually earned their poor reputations; others were maligned unfairly. To these inarticulate, ragged fellows came the first announcement of "It's a boy! And He is Messiah!" To these outcasts of society came the only personal invitation to see the newborn baby, King of the Universe.
Even from birth, Christ came to lowly, sinful people like shepherds and like you and me.
Insight: He was the Good Shepherd as well as the Lamb, and we the humble recipients of His divine invitation to come and see.
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