Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—
praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to heaven,
the shepherds said to each other,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has told us about.”

Luke 2:13-15 NLT

The second thing I love about the Shepherds’ reaction to the good news is that they couldn’t stand still. They couldn’t just hear about it. They had to see it first hand. They hand to go and BE THERE.

It’s kind of a great thing because that is exactly what God longs for with us. A personal encounter. Something that will change us for ever. Something that will draw us closer to him and help us to live out the good news in our day-to-day lives.

The shepherds are so encouraging to me because they were just ordinary joes going about an ordinary working day. And they didn’t shrug off or explain away the experience they had. In fact, they waded in even deeper. They are a reminder that all the “ordinary” stuff should never crowd out the extraordinary love of God in our lives.

And as I draw closer and closer to the busiest time for me – 4 services in 2 days, people! If my voice is up to it, 5 choir anthems, countless prayers and readings, etc. etc. etc. – I need that reminder. I need to not allow the ordinary details crowd out the glory of God.

Because that is what it is all about – the overpowering, unbelievable, unstoppable, redeeming, renewing, revitalizing, transforming power of God’s love. And the fact that he poured all that into a little baby boy who would grow up to save the world.