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.’
The shepherds had just had the most incredible encounter. A message from God, delivered by angels from heaven, accompanied by the most glorious praise they would ever have heard. They could easily have spent the next few hours talking over that wonderful time, but they didn’t. God had spoken to them through the angels and they immediately responded by going to find the baby in the manger. There would be time enough to talk amongst themselves about their shared experience another time. God spoke, and they acted on what they heard.
What about us? Sometimes after we hear a “good sermon” we will acknowledge it as such. Perhaps it stirred up something within us. But what we do next is more important. We need to act on what we have heard, otherwise the sermon will have made no difference to us, no matter how good it was. It’s not enough to look back on previous experiences and lessons from God, no matter how well delivered they were if all they have achieved are good memories. What if we had done something with them? That’s why they were brought to us. The shepherds did. And the outcome was that not only did they find that what the angel said was true, but they encouraged Mary and Joseph in sharing what they had seen and heard, before going on to tell anyone else who would listen. What are we going to do about the things God says to us?
Dear Lord,
We are so blessed when You speak to us in all sorts of different ways. Help me not to just file away what You have said as a “good word” but respond to it as You intend me to. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.