HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SLEEP WITH ALL THE NOISE?

The last two weeks I have asked you to think about how Mary felt. About how Joseph felt. Did you find that easy? This week, I want you to try again. The scene: It is very dark.

Did you figure out that you are a shepherd?

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8 (KJV)

It is time to get into character. The day has been very long. The sheep have finally quieted. Luckily this is not your night to keep watch and you are ready to sleep. First you lay on your right side, but there is a rock hitting your knee. Then you try your left side, but that is not much better. The ground is hard! Plus the shepherd next to you is snoring to beat the band.

Finally, you are comfortable. The snoring stops. All is quiet. Your eyes are heavy and --

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:9-14 (KJV)

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

AND NOW

Well, that was interesting! Can you picture the shepherd shaking his head and saying, “How am I supposed to sleep with all that noise? And the shepherds in the next county would be able to see that light. Of course, there is no going back to sleep now.”

Can you see the shepherds forming a committee to see if they should go check out what they had just been told? Did they take a vote? Were there some that just wanted to go back to sleep?

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:15-16 (KJV)

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

It took effort to go to Bethlehem. They couldn’t just leave the sheep. But it says “they came with haste.”

QUESTIONS

Would you have gone with haste? Or would you have rolled over and gone back to sleep?

Today, do you go with haste to find Jesus? Or do you say, “I believe.” and then roll over and go back to sleep?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

O Lord, I want to be like the shepherds. I want Your glory to shine around me. I want the good tidings of great joy that began that night. I want to be like the shepherds and come to You with haste. Amen