12-Day Advent Devotional for FamiliesSample

Day 9 - The Birth: Curious Shepherds

After Jesus was born, the Gospels give us not one but two groups of traveling worshipers. The first was a caravan of powerful, wise men. They were wealthy and influential power brokers. The second was a much lowlier group: shepherds.

The shepherds were not involved in any palace plots. They were minding their own business, “keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). Yet, as God so often chose to do, an angel suddenly appeared to the shepherds, who must have been stunned! The angel announced to them that the Savior, Christ the Lord, was born. This was “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10).

Hearing this incredible announcement, the shepherds did not delay. They went to Bethlehem “with haste.” They found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. The shepherds shared what had been declared to them, showing us what “good news” Jesus’ birth truly was. Mary received the report of the shepherds as she had received the angel’s news some time before, treasuring what she had heard.

The shepherds’ response lifts our hearts. They did not hear that they would get everything they wanted in life. They heard the best news of all time: the Savior had come! They remind us that if we have Jesus, we have everything we could ever need.

The Christmas gift of Jesus is not just the greatest gift; He is the only gift we need.

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for giving us not only the greatest gift, but the only gift we truly need. Thank you for Jesus. We confess that we often focus on all the bad news all around us. We pray that you would open our eyes afresh to the “good news of great joy” that comes in Christ. Make us like the shepherds; help us to move toward Jesus all our days, and not away from him.

In Jesus’ name, amen.