Have you ever been told a secret in confidence? or been given some good news that no-one else knows yet? It can make you feel good, trusted, and in some way you feel special. Just after Mary gave birth to Jesus, some shepherds were given some amazing news by an angel.

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2v10-12

Of course the shepherds quickly made their way to see Jesus. How privileged were those shepherds? Not just to be visited by an angel and told the good news, but to be one of the first people to ever meet Jesus Christ our Saviour! Not surprisingly it had huge impact on them.

And whilst we are far from being the first to know Jesus, the privilege and honour of knowing Him is the same. The shepherds couldn’t help but glorify and praise God for what they had heard and seen. Sometimes we can allow the business of life to dull that initial awe we had when we first gave our lives to Jesus. Let us use this Christmas story to remind us of how abundantly blessed we are to know Him, and turn that blessing to praise and worship.

The shepherds also couldn’t help but tell other people the good news that the long-awaited Saviour had been born. Christmas is always a good time to spread the message that Jesus came to save us, perhaps even more so this year with the world in such a state of flux, so who could tell the good news to about the Jesus that you know?

Lord, we thank you that you have blessed us to not just meet but know Jesus, and pray that this would lead us to glorify and praise you more, and spread the gospel to those that have not heard or accepted it.

Written by Dave Sawyer.