Faithful Shepherd

Tuesday 26 December
READ: Lk. 2:6-18 
MORE LESSON:  2 Kgs. 7:3-11

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus today, our focus is the lesson to learn from the records of the three shepherds who visited the child Jesus in the manger. It is a lesson of faithfulness to a cause. First, they were faithful in going to look for the baby that the angel told them about, although they were not directly instructed, ...Ye shall find the babe wrapped...in a manger: v. 12 was not a direct instruction to go and search. Again, according to the gospel of Matthew, Herod directed them to come back and give him the location where Jesus was, with the aim of killing the baby.

The shepherds at the instruction of the Angel refused to go back to Herod; they were faithful to the new King. Although they never knew what Jesus stood for, they were faithful in spreading the news about the child Jesus according to what the angel told them, that Jesus Christ the Saviour was born and that this blessing was for all men. In verse 17, ...they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child, they simply turned their privilege to responsibility and today whenever the birth of Jesus is reported, the shepherds are mentioned.

Redemption is a privilege, but after we have received it, it becomes a responsibility to faithfully tell others about the Saviour that we have found. To the shepherds this was good news, as indeed it is today because the angel said, ...behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy... then the angel added ...which shall be to all people: v. 10.

Just as the shepherds spread the news to all people as it is due, the people of God today must spread the news also; we must not keep quiet. Just as the lepers, who walked into God's free provision after the Assyrians fled because God made them to hear noise, said ...This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren't sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let's go back and tell the people at the palace: 2 Kgs. 7:9 (NLT). It is possible that some believers are going through some calamity because they have refused to share the good news about salvation.

Today can be a healing day if we truly repent of keeping to ourselves what is meant to be shared with all. Share the good news today.  

Prayer/Action
*  Ask God to help all believers to be faithful to soul winning, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask God to lead you to someone today with who you will share the goodness.
* Ask God to anoint your tongue afresh to be able to spread the goodness, in the mighty name of Jesus.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Jesus, You reign eternally as my Lord and Saviour, Your power over me and my love for You shall never end, in the name of Jesus.