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"Calling All Shepherds!"

Luke 2:8-20 The shepherds were not the elite of society, but were young, poor, not respectable, etc.  Did you ever wonder why the shepherds were the very first in the world to hear the good news that Jesus had come?  First, this is who Jesus came for  -- He didn't come primarily for prophets, priests and kings -- he came for those who had nothing!  Second, it was the shepherds that Jesus identified with, for as an adult, He would call himself the "Great Shepherd".  Let's look at these young men today. I.  They Went! -- verses 15,16 They overcame the great fear that had gripped them, to obey.  Some people today are kept from obedience to God because of fear.  They obeyed without analysis; they didn't stop to consider the possible negative ramifications of their actions -- they simply obeyed.  They obeyed without delay; their was no hesitation on their part.  Finally, they obeyed without regard to economic circumstances.  This is what God is looking for -- obedience.  The Scripture declares that "to obey is better than sacrifice". II.  They Witnessed! -- verses 17,18 "When they had seen him, the spread the word" -- an encounter with Jesus will change you! "All who heard it were amazed" -- why?  What's so amazing about a baby?  There was nothing about this baby that would attract attention; it was the message that was amazing!  And, it's still amazing today to think that GOD, the Creator of the heavens and earth, would become one of us in order to save us! III.  They Worshipped!  - verse 20 Seeing Jesus will cause you to worship!  They glorified God, meaning they magnified Him.  To magnify is to make bigger.  Now, we can't make God bigger than what He already is, but much of the time we spend magnifying our problems, making them bigger in our perception than God Himself.  Stop magnifying your problems, and start magnifying Jesus!  They praised God, giving verbal expressions of love.  We need to get in the habit of verbally expressing our love to Him. God is calling you and me, all shepherds, to obey, to witness and to worship!