“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.” Luke 2:8-17 (NKJV)
This amazing declaration by an angel of the Lord requires a response from the shepherds, in fact it requires multiple responses. First of all the shepherds must hear the message and receive it by faith. Having received, their response is now to meet for themselves this newborn Christ. The shepherds went with haste, they did not thinks about it, pray about it, or wait for day to come, they hastened to go. Having seen Him a further response is necessary for the astonished shepherds. In verse 17 we find them broadcasting the news of Jesus’ birth to the surrounding country, and all who heard it marveled at what they were told.
This, my friends is a picture of our “reasonable service” to Christ Jesus; we must receive by faith the message that He is Lord and Savior, we must seek to know Him intimately, and having found Him faithful, share our experience with others. Never mind that many will not receive Him, it is ours to share our personal encounter with Jesus. Like the shepherds, our duty is to come and see and go and tell.
