The purpose of this devotional is to help prepare you for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. You may do this as your own quiet time, but we would encourage you to gather some family or loved ones to go through it together.

Excitement Like the Shepherds

When the shepherds first heard about the birth of Jesus, they were afraid. Their fear quickly changed to excitement and joy. After the angels’ announcement, they immediately left for Bethlehem to meet the Baby lying in the manger. Have you ever thought about that journey and the eagerness of the shepherds as they got to go and meet Jesus? How exciting of a journey was that?

I think back to a journey my family and I had. We had not seen my brother or his family for 1 1/2 years. We knew we had a long 17 hour drive, but that did not stop us. We loaded the family minivan, packed the snacks and trinkets to entertain the kids, and off we went. We had planned to drive through the night and we hardly had to stop because our enthusiasm kept pushing us on. We simply wanted to be there to see him and his family! That long journey could not inhibit the excitement and anticipation of our visit! Is that how the shepherds approached Jesus?

When thinking about the shepherds, I quickly consider, is this how I approach talking to Jesus today? Do I have that same kind of excitement and joy? Or do I allow the fears, worries, and distractions of the world to stop me from spending time with my Lord and Savior? Thankfully, Jesus is not a long journey away. His presence is always with us and He is available as frequently as I am willing to take time to speak to Him. As a believer, I need to take a lesson from those shepherds. I need to seek Him with the same excitement and anticipation as they did so many years ago.

-Cindy Grile, Central Christian School Principal