Light of the World (W3D2) Shepherds like us
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night." Luke 2:8
Shepherds were not the people you would expect to be the first to receive the announcement of Jesus' birth.
Shepherds worked out in the fields with sheep --all the time. Basically they were the first shift workers. They missed all the exciting events. They were not the most important or the most well connected or even the most liked people. Much like us, shepherds were normal, everyday, hard working, ordinary people --not the ones you would expect God to speak to.
The shepherds had to be on watch 24/7. There was no real break from the danger and pressure and stress of life. They lived on guard at all times. This was a typical work day. A normal, average, frustrating and stressful day on the job. Much like us, the shepherds were busy and tired and stressed --not the time you would expect God to speak.
We live just like this everyday. Surely God is surely not going to speak to me, not now, not in this mess. That's what makes the shepherd's story so relevant to us. In the middle of an ordinary work day the most un-ordinary thing happened to ordinary folks.
Do you expect God to speak to you? Why or why not? Be honest?
Do you think your circumstances (stress, busyness, hobbies) keep you from hearing from God?
Ask yourself: What steps do I need to take to slow down and hear from God?
Read the following passages. Write down what these verses teach you about how to hear from God. and write down what you think they say about how Jesus overcomes...
John 10:27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Romans 10:17. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Luke 11:28. But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
James 1:19-27. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ...
Psalm 46:10. Be still and know that I am God.
Use your bible concordance (back of your bible) or a Google search to find other places where the bible talks about hearing from God. Based on the verses you find and the ones above what changes need to be made in your life to be better prepared to hear from God in your everyday life?
Have you ever considered starting any of the following?
Creating a space and time to read the bible each week
Writing down information that stands out about what you read
Starting a prayer journal of people and things to pray for and answered prayers
Selecting a few bible verses to memorize
Listening to a section of the bible in audio (there is a great free resource HERE)
