Courage, Belief and Obedience

One of the things I like to do in the weeks leading up to Christmas is look at all the characters of the Christmas story.  I enjoy studying each one, and seeing what I can learn from them.  There's always something new and fresh that comes to my attention.

This last week I've been thinking about the shepherds.  Shepherds were kinda low down the list in society.  They were simple men, usually uneducated - but they were thought to be diligent and faithful to their flock.  They had a hard life, living out in the fields in all kinds of weather.  But they just did their jobs. 

I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like for them to have first an angel appear to them - and then a whole host of angels filling the sky and proclaiming the birth of Jesus.  The Bible says they were afraid - I mean, who wouldn't be?!  But then they talked among themselves, and decided to go see this baby they were told about. 

Two things stand out to me.  First of all, their courage in spite of their fear.  They were fearful, but they responded with courage.  Our natural response to things is oftentimes fear - but then we can collect ourselves and be courageous.  These simple men showed us that so clearly.

The second thing that stood out to me is their obedience.  They didn't have to go see the baby.  They could have just talked among themselves about what they'd seen.  Or they could have just told others about it without going themselves.  But they believed what they'd been told, and they obediently went to see the baby Jesus.  The Bible even says that they went with haste - they didn't waste time in obeying.

I hope and pray that when I'm faced with something unknown and overwhelming that I will respond with courage, belief, and obedience - and respond quickly.  I'm a simple person, and I love the example of the simple shepherds of the field.  In spite of their simplicity, God saw them as important and included them in the Christmas story.  

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests."  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."  Luke 2:8-16

I have a sweet Christmas decoration of the nativity scene.  Some years ago our daughter and her family came to spend Christmas with us here in South Africa.  Floyd, our daughter, and grandkids went Christmas shopping.  They bought me this lovely nativity collection.  It's hand done, hand painted by an artist from Zimbabwe.  It's very special to me.  We don't know how many of the shepherds went to see the baby Jesus, but two of them are represented here.  I have posted a picture of it above.

I pray that whatever challenge I'm presented with that I'll respond as well as the shepherds did!

The other characters I’ve been reflecting on besides the shepherds that came to visit Jesus, are the wise men.  I've been thinking a lot about them.  Their situation was quite different to the shepherds.  No angels came to announce the birth of Jesus to the wise men - they simply saw a star which they felt heralded His birth.  To me, that takes a lot of faith, a lot of believing to just follow a star that they saw.  That's pretty amazing.

We don't know exactly where they came from - there's a list of possibilities.  What we do know is that they traveled a long way.  It wasn't a quick weekend trip.  It took them a long time.  No motels along the way, so it was a hard journey of camping in fields as they traveled.  But their belief in the star they had seen was strong.  They persevered.

The other thing that impressed me was their sensitivity to the voice of the Lord.  They were warned in a dream to return a different way, avoiding seeing King Herod again.  God doesn't speak to me often in dreams - I've had a few times when that happened, but it's not a regular occurance.  But the wise men realized God was speaking to them, they heard the message clearly, and they obeyed.  This tells me that their hearts were attuned to the voice of the Lord.  They recognized it, and were quick to obey.  We don't know a lot about these wise men, but I think we can see that they were men of God who knew and followed His leadings.

My takeaway from these wise men is that I want to believe what God shows me, and hold fast to it even if it takes a long time or takes me down rough paths.  And I want to be sensitive to His voice when He speaks to me - however He chooses to speak to me.  I want my spiritual antenna to be tuned into His voice!

I don't want to be distracted by the voice of others or be pressured to do what they think is right.  I want to clearly hear God's voice speak to my heart.

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, look, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who is born King of the Jews?  For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.' " 

"The star which they saw in the east went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.  And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.  Then, opening their treasures, they offered gifts to Him:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Being warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way."  Matthew 2:1, 9-12

The wise men believed the sign the Lord gave them and set out to obey in finding Jesus.  I want to believe in the words and signs that God puts on my heart.  

I pray God would speak sweet words and lessons into all our hearts in this Christmas season.  May you enjoy the season!