Making Room for Shepherds
Laura Digan
December 27, 2025
Add to Favourites
Listen to this daily worship
Luke 2: 8-20 (NIVUK)
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
I love the story of the shepherds for they teach us what a heart awakened by God looks like. They are ordinary men, rough and hardy. They are unseen, working the nightshift — but heaven comes looking for them.
When the angel speaks they are afraid, but they aren’t frozen in their fear. They listen, they believe and they move. ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.’
The shepherds show us that faith is not passive. Faith moves towards what God has revealed.
And they move with haste, showing us that obedience is often immediate, we don’t need to wait until we think the conditions are right or when we feel worthy. When they meet the baby Jesus the shepherds don’t keep this wonderful encounter to themselves. They testify, they praise. They go back to their fields, back to their work changed men. They carry the glory of God back into their ordinary lives.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father
Thank you for meeting us in the ordinariness and messiness of our lives and inviting us into holy wonder.
Give us hearts like the shepherds — humble, attentive and quick to obey.
When you speak, help us to move with faith and courage.
Let our encounters with Jesus leave us changed, overflowing with praise and eager to share what we have seen and heard.
May we carry Your glory with us in our everyday lives, rejoicing and glorifying you in all we do.
In Jesus’ name we pray
Amen
Login to comment.