Stress Test Devotional April 27
April 27, 2024
LUKE 2:8-12 | 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
God is a strange casting director. Much of the success of a movie or play rests with the choice of actors. Picking leads whose looks, style, and personality fit their roles is crucial, and these choices also
determine the onscreen chemistry between the players.
God’s players, for the most important event in the human drama, are passing strangers. A too young couple from an obscure town in Galilee. A reluctant innkeeper. Visiting stargazers from the far east. And the night shift shepherds! Considered socially inferior and
ritually unclean the sheep herders are the witnesses to the arrival of the heavenly child.
The shepherds are told the news of the Messiah’s arrival by the angels. They are promised it will have a world-wide impact. How has Jesus’ arrival impacted you?
