A Good Story to Tell
What would have happened if the shepherds had heard the angels and not gone to see the baby in the manger?
Hearing the host of heaven singing just to you would be pretty good. It’s easy to think that would have been enough. The angel of the Lord does not command them to go, even if the angel assumes they would (Luke 2:12 bibrefluke2 bibrefluke2v12). They talked it over before they went (Luke 2:15 bibrefluke2 bibrefluke2v15).
Had they not gone, it would have been a good story, but:
First, their own faith would not have been as strong. The revelation of good news was good, but the sign they saw confirmed the word (Luke 2:12 bibrefluke2 bibrefluke2v12). Their faith in the revelation got stronger from following the revelation, and the last we hear of them is that they’re glorifying and praising God more.
Second, Mary’s faith would not have been as strong. She did get an angel’s revelation about nine months previous, and she got confirmation when she visited Elizabeth, but it’d been quiet in the supernatural realm for months. And she didn’t get to hear the heavenly host praising God. The shepherds brought what they heard and gave her more for her faith (Luke 2:19 bibrefluke2 bibrefluke2v19).
Third, the people in Bethlehem were more accountable. They wondered (Luke 2:18 bibrefluke2 bibrefluke2v18), but was that enough? Did they put it together 30 years later?
What—of God’s Word, of the good news, of the great joy—are you enjoying, but keeping to yourself, that is keeping others from being encouraged, which also would be encouragement back? You say, “But I’m not special.” And that’s exactly why God chose the shepherds. What faith could you make more strong by speaking up?