The Shepards' Invitation - A Love That Never Lets Go

A shepherd pauses to listen intently for any strange sounds coming from the pasture.

Slowly, he scans the far edges of the field for dangers lurking in the darkness. He’s not frightened; being a watchman is a normal part of protecting the flock.

But tonight is not a normal night. Out of nowhere, the brightest of lights appears, illuminating a figure more magnificent than anything he’s ever seen. Quickly, he rejoins the other shepherds, and they all stare in awe. Luke 2:9-12 records the encounter:

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them ‘Don’t be afraid!, he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.,”

I used to wonder, Why the shepherds? But now it doesn’t surprise me at all that God chose to invite the shepherds to play a vital role in the story of Jesus, birth.

There’s so much beautiful symbolism and foreshadowing of Jesus, character in the shepherd.

When the angel first appears, he reassures the shepherds by saying, “Do not be afraid!” God’s messenger wanted the shepherds to know that they did not need to be afraid of the unknown, so that their fear would not overshadow the peace and joy of the good news of Jesus’ birth.

I don’t know about you, but my automatic response is to fear the unknown. The sudden appearance of new and unfamiliar circumstances can even arouse panic—overshadowing the peace and joy the Lord brings us.

Maybe this holiday season you’re experiencing financial uncertainty, health challenges, or the loss of someone close. Maybe you don’t know what to expect next.

Maybe you've become so distracted by your uncertainty, your challenges, or your grief that you are unable to focus on the celebration and worship of Jesus' birth. Maybe you’re desperate to feel secure.

If so, then find comfort in what Jesus says about himself:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the

sheep” John 10:11(NLT).

In addition to this extraordinary sacrificial quality, the intricate and intimate care that the shepherd gives his sheep is extensive. The shepherd uses his staff to bring gentle guidance and comfort. He reaches out his staff to catch a wandering sheep and draw it to himself for affectionate examination. Or to bring close a timid sheep who keeps its distance from him.

Oh, how often I wander or become timid! BUT the GOOD NEWS is we never need to feel fearful or timid in the presence of our Good Shepherd.

This intimate care is echoed throughout Scripture. King David, once a shepherd himself, painted this picture beautifully in Psalm 23 (NLT), beginning with verse 1, “The LORD is my shepherd, I have all that I need,” and ending with verses 5 and 6, “My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.” His goodness and unfailing love will pursue me!

This time of year, it’s so easy to fear the unknown. To react to new and unfamiliar circumstances with panic. But what if we choose not to be consumed by fear caused by that financial uncertainty, the health challenge, or grief, and join the shepherds instead?

What if we accept the invitation to GO see the messiah … who is

our Good Shepherd?

According to Luke 2:15-16, “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. And then verse 20 concludes, “The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they heard and saw. It was just as the angel had told them.”

Doesn’t this paint such a beautiful picture of peace and joy? This is the relentless love we celebrate at Christmas—God drawing near, not just to the shepherds long ago but to each of us today.

This Holiday season, may you worship Emmanuel (“God with us”) and rest in the security of your Good Shepherd.

May you know for certain that no matter what unknowns you face, you are held by a love that never lets you go.

And may you trust that His relentless love will pursue you all the days of your life.

Melissa MacGregor

Author: Melissa MacGregor is a Healthy Lifestyle Mentor and writer passionate about equipping women to cultivate their lives and homes with God-honoring, healthy rhythms. Her devotionals are written from a place of vulnerability and truth, reflecting on the challenges that God has brought her through in her own life and health journey.