Countdown to Christmas - Day 17

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.'" - Luke 2:8-10

Like Mary and Joseph, the angel startled the shepherds, who were simply doing their job. Can you imagine being at work, minding your own business, when suddenly--out of nowhere--the angel of the Lord appears with a message for you? What if the angel called you from your job? Asked you to take a spur-of-the-moment trip? Said you needed to switch things up a bit, because something big happened and required your immediate attention?

Not many of us would be so willing to just pick up and go. Some would hesitate. Some would refuse. Some would freeze in fear. Maybe there would be one or two who would do as the shepherds would and take that trip to see what the Lord had in store for their lives. Like I have, they'd find it's not so scary after all. God's blessings tend to come in small packages and sudden requests.

Lord, help us to be brave, to have courage to heed your call on our lives. Your path is narrow and sometimes unforeseen. Help us to have faith to hear what the angel has to say and to respond accordingly. In Jesus' name, Amen.