December 16: The Shepherds Couldn't Keep Quiet
Who were the first people to spread the news of Jesus’ birth? Not priests. Not kings. Shepherds.
“And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”
Shepherds were at the bottom of the social ladder in those days. Rough men. Outdoor workers. Often seen as unreliable. Their testimony wasn’t even accepted in court. And yet they were the ones God chose to hear the angel’s announcement first.
They went to Bethlehem and found the baby, just as they’d been told. And then they couldn’t keep quiet about it. They told everyone what had been said to them about this child. And everyone who heard it was amazed.
Notice what they didn’t do. They didn’t write a theology paper. They didn’t explain the meaning of the incarnation. They told what happened. “We were out in the fields. An angel came. We went and found Him, just like the angel said.” Simple. Firsthand. True.
That’s how carrying the message works in recovery too. You’re not asked to explain everything. You’re asked to tell what you saw and heard. “I was drinking every day. I couldn’t stop on my own. I went to a meeting. People helped. God met me there. Here’s what my life is like now.”
The shepherds also show something about who gets to carry the message. Not just polished people. Not just those with long résumés of sobriety or church leadership. Ordinary, rough-around-the-edges people who’ve seen something real. If God trusted shepherds with the biggest news in history, He can trust you with your story.
And look at the effect. People wondered. They were amazed. Not because the shepherds were great speakers. Because the news was great. Your job isn’t to be impressive. It’s to point to what God did. The good news does the rest.
During Christmas, people may be more open to talking about faith and hope than at any other time of year. Notice the openings. Someone asks why you’re not drinking. Someone mentions they’re struggling. Someone asks what church you go to. Those are your Bethlehem moments.
One thing today
Watch for one natural opening this week to share a little of what God has done for you. When it comes, tell it simply, like the shepherds did, and leave the rest to God.
A prayer
Lord, You gave the best news to ordinary shepherds. Thank You for trusting people like me. Give me courage to tell what I’ve seen and heard, simply and honestly, when the moment comes. Amen.
Telling your story simply is Step Twelve.
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