Share the JOYful News!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  The shepherds drank it when they learned of the birth of Jesus Christ.

            The book of Luke gives an exciting account of the Christmas story.  When the angel appeared to the shepherds, they were “on the job”…out in the fields watching their flocks.  These may have been shepherds who supplied the lambs for the temple sacrifices that were performed for the forgiveness of sin.  But when the angel came to them, they were invited to greet the long awaited LAMB OF GOD, who would take away the sins of the world forever! (Life Application Bible footnote) What a supreme example of love and the best reason for JOY that anyone could have!

            Let's read verses 15-18 of Luke 2: 

 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, and all who heard it were amazed at what they shepherds said to them.

            Do you sense the JOYful excitement in that passage?  The shepherds never doubted for a second that what the angels had said was truth….And they put action to their faith!  They HURRIED OFF, the Bible says.  They didn’t sit around in a shepherd committee meeting trying to decide what they should do next!  They were of one accord and they hurried to see the baby. And don’t miss what they did next…..they SPREAD THE WORD!  Shouldn’t we do the same? 

           At every opportunity, let’s tell others the JOYful news that Jesus Christ is born!