Shepherds

With the Christmas season comes to a close, I include a point to ponder from LCMS President Keischnick:

"As you are preparing your heart and mind for witness and worship this Christmas, I invite you to ponder the following question: "What would have been different if the shepherds had not responded to the angels' message by saying, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us?'...

In all likelihood, many people would not have heard about the birth of Christ. In essence, the angels' message about the Child would have been silenced.

Isn't the same true today when the message of Christmas is not shared with the world? Many people do not hear about the birth of Jesus. Many have no opportunity to ponder the meaning of our Lord's redemption of His people or come to faith in Him. Without the message of the Christ, people are void of any reason to glorify and praise God."