You Matter to the Trail Boss
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-14
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Cowboy Wisdom: Shepherds were the bottom rung on the social ladder. They smelled like sheep, lived rough, and weren't invited to fancy gatherings. They were just common working folks doing an honest day's work under the stars. But when God wanted to announce the greatest news the world would ever hear, He didn't send angels to the palace or the temple. He sent them to a hillside where shepherds were tending their flocks.
Let that sink in, partner. The most important birth announcement in history went first to folks society had written off as insignificant. That tells you something powerful about how God sees you. No matter how ordinary you feel, no matter how invisible you think you are, God knows your name and you matter to Him.
Maybe you feel like you're just keeping watch on some forgotten hillside. Maybe you think if God is even aware you exist, He probably doesn't think much of you. But that's the enemy talking. The truth is, God sees you right where you are. He knows your struggles, your fears, your hopes. And He thinks you're important enough to include in His story.
God has a pattern of choosing the foolish things to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the strong. He picks folks the world overlooks so that no one can claim they earned His favor. It's all grace, partner. All grace.
Questions for Reflection:
Do you secretly feel like you're too insignificant for God to notice or use?
How does the story of the shepherds change your view of your own importance to God?
What "ordinary" role are you filling that God might want to use in extraordinary ways?
Prayer Focus: Thank God that He sees you and values you, regardless of your social status or achievements. Ask Him to help you see yourself the way He sees you. Pray for eyes to recognize how He might be working in your "ordinary" life.
