Christmas time is one of my favorite times of the year. The season changes and new life is born through our Savior Jesus Christ. I think I learn something about the birth of Christ every year, and this year is no different. We are all familiar with Mary and Joseph and their trip to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. But what caught my attention this year is the angel that appeared to the shepherds telling them of this good news on his arrival.

 

Our King has been born and God chose shepherds to hear of this news before anyone else. I love how God chooses people to carry out His amazing mission. We consistently see in scripture how He chooses to use the least valued, least admired, least likely person to carry out something so beautiful and powerful. During this time, sheep farmers were generally seen as having low or little value by other people. They would spend their days tending, herding, and feeding groups of sheep. So why them?

 

King David is an example we see of not only being a shepherd, but also the least likely. When the Lord told Samuel to go anoint one of Jesse’s sons, he seen before him 7 strong, attractive men and thought surely, the one that’d soon be king was standing before him. But the Lord responded to Samuel informing him otherwise, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

 

Samuel goes on to ask Jesse if he had any other sons. Jesse responds in confusion, because the most likely to be chosen is standing among them. Jesse told Samuel, that he has one last son, who was in the field tending his sheep. They sent for David and the Lord told Samuel that he is the one to be anointed. Later we see David defeat the giant, Goliath and become one of the greatest kings of Israel.

 

 

Outsiders that no one would choose- God chose.

Small ones that the world overlooks- God sees.

Broken ones that would be picked last- God picks first.

 

I am so encouraged by the broken things he makes beautiful. God has a beautiful story for us, just like He did with David. We truly have to have faith that we are His chosen people and He’s got an amazing journey for us. Just as He chose the least of these to carry out his plan, He is eagerly waiting for us to walk out the good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives~ but we must seek after Him.

We wish you all the best with your loved ones this holiday season. May you be in the presence of the Lord, reflecting on the meaning, and purpose behind season.

 

In love and grace,

~ Katie