Have you experienced an event in your life in which you couldn’t contain your excitement and had to tell someone?  You’ve probably witnessed the birth of a child and seen the excitement of announcing the birth.  That was a similar experience of the shepherds at the birth of Jesus,

So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.  (Luke 2:16)

The word “hurry” conveys the idea to earnestly desire and reveals a strong yearning.  The shepherds had been impacted the the angelic announcement and they had to tell someone else.  The Apostle Paul felt this burden in his life in his desire to preach the gospel,

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.  (1 Corinthians 9:16)

The shepherds simply told others what they had seen and heard,

When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.  (Luke 2:17)

We have a tendency to complicate what God wants to make simple.  These were shepherds, not theologians.  The shepherds were common people who had an experience with God.  Has God impacted your life?  You are a link in the chain of God’s plan to communicate the good news to others.

The good news is for sharing.  There is an abundance of bad news, who do you know who could benefit from hearing the good news?

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5