...listening shepherds...

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us’” Luke 2:8-15.

When I lived in Africa years ago, I lived among shepherds with large herds of cattle, and a few sheep and goats. Shepherds knew these animals never just followed them blindly. No, these animals had stubborn minds of their own! There were no sheepdogs, just a few young kids holding a long thin stick they used to tap the hips of their cattle.  And yet, I saw some measure of trust among the cattle to trust their shepherds to take them to places where, in a dusty and dry landscape, they be led to some water to drink and something to nibble from the ground. But there wasn’t much as they headed out every morning.

Now I can assure you that these shepherds in Africa would have been scared to death with angels appearing telling them to go and find something – someone – who’s lying in a feeding-trough! How absurd is that?

But before they can run away out into the wilderness leaving the animals behind, there comes answer, sung to music the likes of which the shepherds never imagined before: The Great Shepherd Himself has been born! The King is here, and you are His sheep, His people! Come and find Him! But the big question for you and for me is this: Take a moment, and think prayerfully about what sort of decision it takes to do what the angels are insisting. But then, suppose this was the moment towards which your whole life had been leading? And supposing you messed it up and missed out on it? You wouldn’t want to spend the rest of your days kicking yourself for not being there at the most important moment in your own life. So go! Just go!

Today, then, pause and think of what the Lord is asking you to do. Where is God asking you to go that is so unexpected, to do something and to be someone you didn’t think you could ever be? Is there something God is asking you to do in your life? Take a moment and pray about the quiet Word from God you get from time to time; perhaps not angels singing, but a soft whisper that tells you to go somewhere unexpected, to do something you hadn’t planned, to be someone you never thought you could be.

Lord, let me be ready to hear your voice

and be the person You want me to be!