Have you considered the high profile of the shepherds in the Christmas story? They were some of the first people God told about the birth of his Son. Why?

Because Jesus comes to the stinky, the sleepless, and the undesirable. He comes to cold nights of loneliness and hopelessness, to those who aren’t climbing a career ladder, and to anyone separated from family. He comes to ordinary people in everyday circumstances. 

After visiting the baby Jesus lying in a manger, the shepherds headed home to the Monday-morning feel of back to work. On the way, they told the townsfolk all about the birth of Jesus: “And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (Luke 2:18). God had upgraded his spokesperson strategy from angels to shepherds. Yes, upgraded. 

People are attentive to and amazed at ordinary, everyday words—even more than an angel’s words—because people can relate to ordinary, everyday stories. 

So don’t wait for an angel to swoop down from the heavens this Christmas and fill the break room or living room or apartment lobby or chat room with oohs and ahs. 

There’s an underlying theme of simplicity to Christmas. Some shepherds. A poor, young girl. A carpenter. A sleepy, little town. A manger. A baby. God wants you to know that being right with him and ready for life is not complicated.

Praise God for it. Share it.