Sometimes we might think that God cares about us only if we do something significant. As we read God’s word, nothing could be further from the truth. There is no one who loves us more and suffered more for our sake than our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord tells us about his sacrificial love in John 10:14-15. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.[1]
The world seems to care most about the rich and famous. When Jesus was born, His birth was announced to shepherds. These were men who were considered to be on the lowest rung of the social ladder. 8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! [2] Luke 2:8-11.
Today we might miss how shepherds were viewed in the days of Jesus. Shepherds were just ahead of beggars on the social strata. Even though the world didn’t think much of shepherds, God cared for them. They were important enough that they were the first ones to hear of the birth of Jesus. What does this tell us about God? The Lord tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that He does not think like we do. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. [3]
Over and over in the Scriptures, it is the lowly that hearts are more open to hearing the good news of Jesus. Sometimes it may not be the low social strata, but it is always those who have humble hearts.
There is no better news than how much our Lord cares for you. Imagine there is not a second of time where our Lord is not thinking about you. He always knows what you are going through. If you have a need today for yourself or someone else take it to the Lord in prayer. He loves you and cares about you.
Listen to a conversation about the Christmas story: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/god-steps-into-time/the-gift-of-jesus
[1, 2, 3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Jn 10:14–15, Luke 2:8-11, Isaiah 55:8-9). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.