This ornament is one from my childhood. It is one that brings back sweet memories of how I loved to linger around the tree. Mom had a whole set of these, but I am not sure where all of them ended up.
As I have been teaching my kids about Jesus' birth this week, I was reminded of something.
The shepherds were the first to hear of Christ's birth.
I realize about now you are saying, "Uh, yes... that is common knowledge, Kellie."
Bear with me as I share with you....
Shepherds were the "lowly" people of that time. It was not a glorious job to watch over those stinky, stubborn animals.
If Jesus had been born in a palace, where truly the King of Kings and Lord of Lords *should* have been born, those "lowly" shepherds would have never darkened the door of the palace. They would never have gotten to see the Christ Child. It is a beautiful picture that any can come to Christ. It can be anyone: rich, poor, weak, strong.
What I haven't thought as much about before is that shepherds came to Jesus first.
How many times do we see in the Bible where it says the Lord is our shepherd?
A shepherd would go after just one sheep not in the fold.
A shepherd watched over those sheep to keep them from danger.
A shepherd was always there for his sheep.
How fitting that shepherds would be the first to see Jesus!! They were a picture of Christ themselves! They had to lead those stubborn and straying sheep just as Jesus leads us.... His stubborn and straying people.
I am thankful for this new "view" of that first Christmas.
John 10:14,27-28
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my Father's hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment