Tell somebody the Good News
Do you remember the old gospel song “Go Tell It On The Mountain”? It’s a real golden oldie, but it holds a relevant truth: we should tell people about the Good News.
The Bible tells the rest of the shepherds’ story in Luke: “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them…The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:15-20, NIV)
These young shepherd boys immediately went to Bethlehem to look for the Messiah. They didn’t receive the Good News with fear and doubt—they responded right away and sprang into action. friend, do you obey God like this?
I’m struggling because it seems to me that many Christians are hearers of the Word but not doers. The Bible warns us against such Christianity: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22, NKJV)
These shepherds had no theological training, no reputation, and little money or hope, but they obeyed. They sought the Messiah and then told everyone about the angels and the Baby in a manger. In fact, they first told the story to Joseph and Mary. Mary was so touched that she “...treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19, NIV)
I’ve often wondered why God chose these shepherds, these kids. He decided to tell young boys about the greatest miracle of all time: “Immanuel, God with us.” It doesn’t sound like a wise strategy, does it? But God’s ways are not our ways. I’ve finally come to the conclusion that He looked for children because they would believe the unbelievable.
friend, the Bible tells us that Jesus “...called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. And He said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 18:2-3, NIV)
May the miracle of the Messiah fill you anew, and may you believe and share like a little child. You’re going to move into 2022 fresh and new because you are a miracle. I believe in you!
