AFTER the angel had told to the shepherds the good news of the Saviour born in Bethlehem, and the multitude of the heavenly host had filled that midnight scene with their praises to God, they went back to heaven. Then, “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 make known unto us.” These good shepherds were not indifferent to the message the Lord had sent them by the angel. It was good news they had heard, and they wanted to see for themselves. “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”
Now, dear children, I want you to notice that not only did these shepherds go to see for themselves, according to the word of the angel, but “they came with haste.” They did not wait till some other time, but at once, in the darkness of the night they hurried off to see the Babe lying in the manger. Was it not good that they should go at once to see what the Lord had told them about? And is it not good to attend at once to what God tells us in His word? If God tells us about His Son whom He has given to be a Saviour, and asks us to believe on Him, why should we put it off till tomorrow? Why not now?
Notice also that these shepherds did not keep the good news to themselves. “They made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.” And should not we, too, make known the good news we have heard of Jesus? We can tell people about “a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord,” and how He has suffered on the cross for lost sinners, so that whoever believes in Him may be saved.
You will notice, too, in the 20th verse of the second chapter of Luke, that the shepherds went back to their flocks, “glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” They believed the angel, and then went and saw for themselves, and returned full of joy and praise. Now, you too, have heard the good news. Do you, then, believe? And do you rejoice and praise God for the gift of His Son? And do you tell others of the good things God has made known to you?
H. R.
ML 04/15/1900