"You will find a baby.."
The angels sent the shepherds out to search for a baby...the baby they had declared was God's gift to mankind..a Savior. I find it interesting that they didn't deliver the baby to the shepherds (they could have!), and they didn't miraculously transport the shepherds to the manger (they could have!), but they sent them out. Just like the Magi coming from the East, the shepherds had to start their own trek to find this special child...to seek, to find.
When I think about this, I can't help but think of the verses in Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
and Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
and Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
The shepherds were promised that they would find the source of their worship IF they set out on their search and looked for the baby that the angels had described. They would not find Him if they didn't go and look for Him. They would not be able to testify to the truth of the angels' proclamation if they did not do their part and set out to seek Him.
We are likewise promised that we will find God and His truth...but we have to set out on our own journey and diligently seek it. God invites us to seek Him, to show our desire for Him, to ask for His wisdom (James 1:5) and He promises that our seeking will not be in vain...He will make Himself known to us. And for the prodigal, He waits to see us running down the road back to Him, and He is there...with arms open wide, to receive us.
The angels prompted the shepherds to go and find Him...the Spirit prompts us to go and find Him. If you have never started your journey, it is not too late. If you have and have gotten sidetracked, it is not too late to return to your trek.
The biggest mistake we can make is to ignore the call, continue to sit in our field and watch our sheep....or TV, or FB, or.....
The angels sent the shepherds out to search for a baby...the baby they had declared was God's gift to mankind..a Savior. I find it interesting that they didn't deliver the baby to the shepherds (they could have!), and they didn't miraculously transport the shepherds to the manger (they could have!), but they sent them out. Just like the Magi coming from the East, the shepherds had to start their own trek to find this special child...to seek, to find.
When I think about this, I can't help but think of the verses in Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
and Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
and Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
The shepherds were promised that they would find the source of their worship IF they set out on their search and looked for the baby that the angels had described. They would not find Him if they didn't go and look for Him. They would not be able to testify to the truth of the angels' proclamation if they did not do their part and set out to seek Him.
We are likewise promised that we will find God and His truth...but we have to set out on our own journey and diligently seek it. God invites us to seek Him, to show our desire for Him, to ask for His wisdom (James 1:5) and He promises that our seeking will not be in vain...He will make Himself known to us. And for the prodigal, He waits to see us running down the road back to Him, and He is there...with arms open wide, to receive us.
The angels prompted the shepherds to go and find Him...the Spirit prompts us to go and find Him. If you have never started your journey, it is not too late. If you have and have gotten sidetracked, it is not too late to return to your trek.
The biggest mistake we can make is to ignore the call, continue to sit in our field and watch our sheep....or TV, or FB, or.....
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