But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”     Luke 2:10-12 HCSB

In this Scripture passage, an angel is telling the shepherds of Jesus’ birth. As soon as this angel said this, a multitude of angels appeared praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!” Other versions say peace on earth and goodwill toward men. It should be noted, however, that if we fail to believe in Christ and trust in Him, this peace is not guaranteed to us. This is what is meant by people He favors. But this isn’t what I want to talk about today. I want to discuss the urgency these shepherds had in finding baby Jesus.

I want you to understand, they were at work. When I worked, my job kept me super busy. I am thankful that I don’t recall many times when an emergency pulled me away from work, but I was grateful for bosses who would have understood.

These men were shepherds. They were charged with taking care of these sheep. They were out in a field at night when they received this angelic announcement. They didn’t say they would check this out when we get off work. They didn’t call in replacements and wait till they got there. In Luke 2:15, we are told that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem.” In verse 16, it says they came with haste and found Joseph and Mary and the babe lying in a manger. When the angels appeared and told them the Messiah was born, they needed to find Him.

Is Christmas urgent for you? Many people consider it urgent to buy presents. Many people consider their cooking of the holiday meal to be urgent. What about finding Jesus? Is that urgent to you? Is honoring Him and His birth and being thankful that He came to take your sins away urgent?

Many of us, me included, will become stressed out over all the things we have to do, the events we have to attend, and there never seems to be enough time in the day. By New Year’s Day, we will be exhausted and glad it’s all over.

My friend, Christmas should not be this way. It should be a time of celebration of the Lord’s birth. The only thing that should be urgent is praising and glorifying God for this awesome gift He gave us.

I know we don’t want to disappoint family and friends, and we want to make every event and be sure we have the best gifts. However, that’s not what it’s all about. It’s all about Jesus. It’s so easy to get lost in all that is superficial and forget about what we are really doing here.

Those shepherds dropped everything and went to find Jesus. Are you searching for Jesus this holiday season? Or, is finding the perfect gift for that certain someone who has everything taken first place?

The shepherds dropped everything and went in search of Jesus. They didn’t stop until they found Jesus. Once they found Jesus, they made it widely known what the angels had told them about this child (Luke 2:17). They told everybody.

Be more like those shepherds this holiday season.

Have a great day!