By Pastor Daniel Ethridge
Key Text: Luke 2:8-20
God Saw Them
In Luke 2:8, shepherds were watching their flocks at night—ordinary, unseen, and uncelebrated. Yet, God saw them. Just like in Matthew 10 and Psalm 8, Scripture reminds us of God’s care for the overlooked. He is El Roi—“The God Who Sees.”
God Pursued Them
Luke 2:9-10 tells us the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord surrounded them. God took the initiative to reach them with the good news. As 1 John 4:10 affirms, love starts with God pursuing us—not the other way around.
God Revealed Salvation to Them
The angel declared in Luke 2:11 that a Savior was born. Not a soldier or politician, but a Savior. The shepherds responded immediately, saying, “Let us go.” They believed the message and moved toward the Messiah. In John 14:6, Jesus affirms He is the only way to the Father. Salvation had been revealed—to them and to us.
God Changed Them
Luke 2:15 says they hurried to Bethlehem. In verse 17, they shared the message with others. And in verse 20, they returned glorifying and praising God. They went from frightened outcasts to joyful witnesses. The message of Jesus transforms everyone it touches.
The shepherds didn’t just hear the good news—they responded, were changed, and became the first evangelists of the Christmas story.
God still sees, pursues, and saves people today. Like the shepherds, we are invited to receive the good news and respond in worship and witness. Don’t miss your moment to go and see what God has revealed to you.
