Musings: He’s still looking for everyday shepherds

From the beginning of time this moment was planned by God. Planned by God Himself. That’s what we believe.  Thousands of years and thousands of prophecies giving us hope that someday God would send His Son. His Only Son. To save us. Think of it:

God. Would. Send. His. One. And. Only. Son.

And then one day, the time is right, and He sends Him. We really don’t know what day it was. We don’t know if it was winter or spring, summer or fall. We just know He came. He arrives to a poor young woman in a place we would never think of for the Son of God to be born. He was born in a stable. Surrounded by the animals. Nobody knew.  Jesus was born and nobody knew. Doesn’t seem like much of a plan to me.

Well, the plan included the shepherds. The great big announcement from heaven was delivered to shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over the sheep. That’s it. They weren’t holy shepherds. They weren’t super intelligent shepherds. They were just men, living in darkness, all alone in the fields, devoted to the sheep. They were making sure no one ate the sheep. And then one day these men were chosen to hear the greatest announcement ever. Why? We don’t know why. They just were.

First, one angel appeared to them, and they were terrified. Terrified men by an angel of the Lord appearing and the “glory of the Lord shone around them.”

You would be terrified too. They didn’t know about Jesus or His birth. They just knew that one minute they were laying in the dark, minding their own business and the next, an angel with the glory of the Lord was standing there.  He, the angel, told them to not be afraid because he was bringing them good news that cause great joy for all the people. He told them that this baby was the Messiah that they had been waiting for.

And then, a “great company of the heavenly host” appeared before them. They were just shepherds. They were just normal, everyday people. They were just shepherds, standing out in a field along and now they were surrounded by a couple of thousand angels, who were rejoicing and praising God. Wow. Wow. Wow. Eventually they went to find the baby. And they became the first witnesses of Jesus birth.

They told everyone what they had seen and heard. It was real. It was true. They were filled with joy. They were still shepherds afterward. They went back to tending sheep. But it was never the same.

God still operates the same way. He made a point with everything that happened with the birth of His Son. He chooses the least among us to tell the Good News.

He is really truly not impressed with the things we think should impress Him. He isn’t waiting to tell His plans to that famous preacher with the big church. He is willing to tell you.

He is listening to you as you sing worship songs by yourself at home as much as He hears the largest choir.  He hears your whispered prayers as instantly as He hears anyone.

He’s still looking for the everyday shepherds.

Marie Armenia is a Christian author, songwriter, singer and performer who has traveled in the U.S. and abroad, touching a wide range of audiences. Visit mariearmenia.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Musings: He’s still looking for everyday shepherds