Let’s Go to Bethlehem!

“Run, Run, Run to the Stable” was the title of the shepherd’s song in Come to the Manger.

"We’ll run, run, run ‘til we find Him

We’ll search, search, search ‘til He’s heard.

We’ll run through the night to see the glorious sight

of the Living Promise of God’s Word.”

Any one of the titles: Savior, Messiah, Lord would be a great reason to RUN to Bethlehem. Which is exactly what the shepherds do. They are full of action. The verbs are underlined below.

"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." Luke 2:8, 15-17

Their actions don’t stop there.

"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 2:20

“Let’s Go and See!”

“Let’s Hurry!”

“Let’s Find!”

“Let’s Spread the word.”

“Let’s Glorify and Praise God!”

Now the big question: What do we do with the story of Jesus’ birth? What do we do with the Good News of Great Joy for All People? Can we be more like the shepherds? This year, let’s listen, go, hurry, see, and find. Let’s spread the Word, and let’s glorify and praise God! What does that look like in the 21st century? It means seeking Him in the Word and prayer and in relationship. Spending time develops and deepens that relationship. Then knowing Jesus better will motivate us to also introduce Him to others. And it will result in our singing His praise.

This is the Good News of Christmas! Take action! Let’s hear the angel’s call. Let’s put on our running shoes and head to the manger. "He [Jesus] said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'” Mark 16:15

The shepherds were prompted by an angelic chorus. One of my favorite renditions of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is from A Charlie Brown Christmas when the children sing it on “loo” their heads bobbing to take a collective breath. But the words of the song are so powerful. One of my favorite lines is “God and sinners reconciled.” My kindergarten chorus and I would hold one hand high and drop the other, then bring them together in one big clap on the last syllable to demonstrate God and sinners reconciled. He was born to take on our sins so that “man no more may die” and to give us all second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled.

Joyful all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem’

Hark! the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King.

Christ by highest heaven adored

Christ the everlasting Lord

Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail, the incarnate deity,

Pleased as Man with Men to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel!

Hark! the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn King.

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace!

Hail the Son of righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

Risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,

Born that man no more may die,

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn King.

Prayer

Lord, the humble shepherds are a great example of listening and taking action. Help me put you first over everything else. I would like to hurry to the manger because You are there, and I want to see You! I want to know your story and tell it to many.

We thank AMG Publishers and Ann Marie Stewart for providing this plan. For more information about this book, please visit AMG Publishers. To learn mor e about AMG International's gospel work around the world, visit AMG International.