Sheep

God’s Service Department

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

If you have worked in the service department of any store you know that returns can be a challenge. People lose their receipts or bring in things that are just worn out with age. Worse yet some try returning items that came from another store. All of this takes time and patience and tempers sometimes flare. But no matter what the problem, the goal is to restore confidence and put things back in their rightful place.

Today’s scripture talks about a different kind of returning. We are the ones who need to be returned to where we belong. We have forgotten where home is and spiritually speaking have lost our receipt. But nothing can prevent God from restoring us. We can be accepted whether we are worn out, broken or even purchased at another store. God is in the business of returns so don’t even think of giving up. Right now He is willing to accept us as his own and become the Shepherd of our souls!

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:25

3rd Shift Shepherds

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And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Luke 2:8

It seems unlikely that even one of the shepherds was laying awake thinking of God’s promised messiah that night. Instead these men were likely the third shift workers who were sent out to watch the flock after the main shepherds had gone to bed for the evening. In the small village of Bethlehem only its history held importance. No one thought much of its military or commercial value.

In the darkness of that night the unnamed and unimportant shepherds were about to become the first people on earth to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. God had remembered His people. God had remembered Bethlehem. Most astonishing of all God had remembered some shepherds whom everyone else had forgotten.

Nepal and India 048 (2)

Did you know that God has also remembered you? Have you heard that He is not satisfied to visit only the better homes in the better neighborhoods with the biggest churches with their beautiful appearances? Just as the shepherds were watching their flocks at night so God watches over us when we are going through the darkest moments of our lives. He has not forgotten. He knows right where we are. He hears us and He still sends His message of good news. There is no better place on earth to discover again the greatest news of all. Jesus Christ is born to bring light and hope and salvation to all of us who are out in our fields by night!