The Shepherds Told What They Had Seen

Luke 2:8-17 KJV; The Shepherds Told What They Had Heard And Seen. Jesus, the child born in Bethlehem is our Savior and Lord.

Shepherds Need Rest

And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. 

                                                                               (Mark 6:30-34 KJV)

The disciples are grieving the beheading of John the Baptist and had just returned from being sent out two by two on a mission journey. The journey and the death would have left them exhausted as it would most of us. Jesus instructed them to go with him to a quiet place so that they could rest. They went by ship; but, people followed them anyway.

It is often this way for shepherds of the flock. Sometimes, there is little time to rest. Sometimes, it is just a matter of completing one thing and jumping immediately into the next.

I will never forget the 4th of July week that I had ten funerals to officiate at. Ten funerals in seven days is a lot. But, during times of epidemics others have had many more. Most of the people I did not know; although, they were all family members of members of the congregation who had moved away and were to be buried from the church they grew up in. I was fried. I did not have time to grieve which was sorely needed as one of the women was also a dear friend. The church ladies were fried as well as they prepared luncheons for all of the families. It took not a little time to be rested and get over the pace of that week. Each morning as I had woke up there was something I needed to get done immediately for the flock.

Jesus' recognized the need for his disciples to have a time of rest. But, when it came to ministering to the flock that took priority.

God give us the wisdom and strength to shepherd your people; to care for them in their times of need.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Feed Not The Itching Ears

"Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.

And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord." 

                                                                                            (Jer 23:1-4 KJV)

One of the many ways to scatter the Lord's flock is to feed his people with a different gospel than the one that Jesus proclaimed. When pastors preach a word that pleases itching ears rather than pleases God people will eventually have their fill of being pumped up in that place. They will want more. They will find other ways and places to be entertained (false gospels usually are nothing more than entertainment) and not necessarily a place of Christian worship. 

When the flock hears too much law as in if you don't repent and choose for Jesus, without the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ for them; without the benefit of absolution, they will soon tire of being judged every Sunday as they listen to the pastor beg them to choose for Jesus. They will walk away or begin to talk with one another behind the pastors back stirring up strife within the congregation causing even more of the sheep to be scattered.

To be fed a false gospel does not bring us closer to Jesus. To buy into it in order to make ourselves feel good does not reconcile us to God.

St. Paul wrote to the Galatians:  

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." 

                                                                                        (Gal 1:6-10)

The pastor is not sent to scratch the itching ears. I was told by my mentoring pastor when I received my first call as a missionary to a "church without walls" that I was being sent to comfort the afflicted and afflict the too comfortable. This is done with the word of God through the Word of God who is Jesus the Christ.

May God help us to be faithful to his word in all that we say and think and do. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

He Calls Shepherds; Fruit Gatherers, And Fishermen

He call shepherds to lead his people;
Fruit gatherers to be fruitful and
to gather the fruit;
Fishermen to fish for people.

"Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel." 

                                       (Amos 7:14-15 KJV)

God calls whom he will call to be his voice; to share the words of his promises and warnings to the world. He called Amos, a shepherd of sheep, to shepherd his people. God call Amos, a fruit gatherer in the orchards, to be fruitful by sharing his words of both promise and warning. Amos was not of the nobility. He was not highly esteemed. Yet, God chose Amos. 

God chose King David who was once a mere shepherd boy to rule his people. From a shepherd of sheep to a shepherd of God's people.

God has a long history of calling those that many would consider to be mere laborers to serve him fruitfully by serving and shepherding his people. He calls whom he will call and not as the world would call. He most often calls those who the rest of the world would consider unfit. He calls those whom he knows will bear fruit for the kingdom. 

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16)

God calls fruit gathers to be fruitful and to gather the fruits for the Kingdom. He calls shepherds to gather his flock and to protect and to lead them. He called fishermen to be fruitful by fishing for people.

"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."

                                                                                        (Matt 4:18-20)

If God is calling you to serve him in a particular way, don't let anyone talk you out of it. Let no one cause you to think that you are not qualified to do what God is sending you to do. God would not send you out without preparing you. He would not send you out without going with you. 

Go in peace. Serve the Lord. 

Pr. J.

The Glory Of God - Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:7-19 KJV

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

+++

May this day as you celebrate the birth of our Saviour be truly blessed.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Together We Celebrate The Birth

Gather to Worship
(Heb 10:24-25)

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (Luke 2:16-20 KJV)

Unlike the shepherds we don't have to get off our couches to celebrate the birth of Christ this year. There doesn't have to be any traveling. We don't have to go to far. Thanks to COVID restrictions many will be making haste to their computer screens this evening and/or tomorrow morning to watch the celebration of the birth of Christ, the one who has made us free to live as children of God. They will be watching. But, there will be no live participation; no interaction. Maybe some will join in the hymns of praise from their living rooms; but, probably not many. 

Many, more fortunate, will also be celebrating the birth of the Son of God in the traditional manner; within congregations, as they glorify and sing praises in the company of other Christians. St. Paul encouraged us to gather together often: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb 10:24-25) 

If you can, go and gather with others to celebrate the birth of our King! But, I hope that no matter where you are observing the birth of our savior from, like the shepherds, you will go and make known to others the good news of this miracle by praising and giving glorify to God in word and deed. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

What's To Become Of The Child?

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.   (Luke 2:16-20 KJV)

Mary pondered this miracle birth; this miracle baby in heart. That's what mothers tend to do. Ponder the lives of their children in their hearts. They wonder if they will raise their children to grow up in the way they wish them to grow. They wonder if they have it in them to be good mothers. They wonder what their child will grow up to do or to be. Mothers who love their children ponder these things in their hearts. They love their children. They worry about them. They pray for them.

What sadness Mary would have known if she had known what would become of this beautiful baby boy cradled in her arms. He would grow up to be hanged on a cross for her sake and for the sake of all people. He would live very few years into adulthood and be executed for the crimes; the sins, of others.

While the shepherds shared the news of this birth of our Savior, Mary pondered these things within her heart. During this Christmas Holy Day may we all ponder the wonderful things that God in Christ Jesus has done for us!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Fear and Joy; A Savior Born!

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  (Luke 2:8-11 KJV)

I would be most probably be sore afraid too if an angel of the Lord showed up and the glory of the Lord shone around me. This is not a little thing. It would be a shock and awe moment. A bit of fear and a whole lot of awe.

But, this angel who brought fear to the hearts of the shepherd also brought good news; very good news of great joy. Their Savior was born. He lives! 

The shock and awe of Christ's birth seems to have worn off a little in these days. Now, it's not so much about celebrating the birth of a Savior and King; but, about personal celebrations of a holiday; not so much a holy day.

May the wonderment of a child born in a barn for the sole purpose of saving us from our own sinful ways be with you this Christmas season.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Go and Tell!

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:16-20 NRSV)

The shepherds did not waste any time. When they heard about this miracle child they went and saw him for themselves and then they went and told what they had seen to others.

What has God shown you? What miracles have you beheld? When was the last time you shared the story about our miraculous and awesome God with others? 

During this Advent and Christmas season; above all other times of the year, we have been given the opportunity to share the Good News that accompanies the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Go and tell, glorifying God for this precious child!

May your Christmas and New Year be filled with hope, love, joy, and peace!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Do Not Fear; The Lord Is With You

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11 NRSV)

Do not afraid; do not fear! We hear this words not just from the angel speaking to the shepherds; but, from Jesus on more than a couple of occasions in the Gospels. Who are they kidding? We would be very afraid, indeed, to have an angel appear before us with the glory of the Lord shining all around us.

Do not fear. The Lord is with you always. (Isa 41:10) The Lord who loves you and gave himself for you is always with you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11 NIV) 

The shepherd cares for and watches his or her flock to safeguard it from anything that might seek to destroy the sheep. It can be a very lonely position to be out in the fields alone watching over all of those sheep that could easily wander off and get lost; fall off a cliff; or be devoured by a wolf. 

How much lonelier was our Good Shepherd while here on earth? No one; but the Father whose purpose was for Jesus to lay down his life for us understood his purpose.

His purpose was solely about his flock of sheep. His purpose was that we might be safe and be saved from our own sins; from wandering off where we do not belong; from being eaten by ravaging wolves and wily coyotes. His purpose was to care for the sheep and to protect us.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and he laid down his life for you. May God help you to keep from following the nasty wolves in sheep's clothing. May God care for you and protect you from all that is evil through the blood of the one who gave his life that you might live, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Shepherd's Psalm

Psalm 23 NIV

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

As the storms brew; whether they are hurricanes or threats of nuclear missiles or something more closely related to your personal life may we all find peace in the knowledge that God loves us and that all who trust in Him will dwell in His house forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Shepherds Will Be Accountable

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock.  Ezekiel 34:7-10 NIV

How many times have we heard that children have no respect for adults; that there are so few with any kind of work ethic in this country; or that we have too many "entitled" people living in this country?  We blame the high crime rates and the poverty in this country on anything and everyone else; but, ourselves. We blame it on the schools. We blame it on the government. We blame it on Madeline O'Hare or maybe even Darwin. The truth is none of these are to blame for the lack of faithfulness and consequently the lack of morals or ethics in this country. The church is. The shepherds need to stand up and take accountability for the false teachings that they have promulgated.

If this country is and was actually a Christian Nation then why have Christians stood back while all these things we claim to detest become so predominant? Who was teaching and preaching the way of the Lord and his promises to those who believe in him? Who was and is standing on the Word? I don't mean the word that's been twisted around to please the itching ears of the people for that is exactly what has led to the sheep being scattered and wandering about lost in the first place.

I remember even as a teen-ager wondering why pastors taught something contrary to the word of God. Yes, even discerning teen-agers can know when a pastor is being faithful to the Word and when he or she is telling stories to ensure his or her salary; his or her pension; his or home medical insurance; and, the list goes on. This is not a new thing. It has been going on for a very long time; even before the time of Ezekiel.

The Lord reminds us over and over again throughout scripture to beware of false shepherds who have left the sheep to become food for wild animals; to become prey to a world who would overrun and destroy them.

It is not the governments fault nor even Madeline O'Hare's fault if the shepherds stood back accepting another truth and preaching the same. It is no one's fault; but, our own if the shepherds would not stand up and on the Word of God. If you're upset because the cross or nativity scene or even the ten commandments cannot be displayed in public consider this:  As a Christian are they on display in your own yard; in your own home; even at your place of worship? Christians should not expect the world to conform to traditions, or ethics, or morals, or to walk in the way that Jesus would have us go, if we, ourselves, are not willing.

If you feel that Christians are losing ground in this country; if you feel the church is diminishing, ask yourself if you are going to be part of the problem or a part of the solution. Who do you think that the Lord is going to hold accountable for leading so many astray?

May God fill not just the shepherds; but, the sheep, as well, with the Holy Spirit so that we might be empowered to stand fast on the Word of God and proclaiming it faithfully to all of the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

False Shepherds Destroyed

In the 50th chapter of Jeremiah we read the word the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon. Babylon is about finished. God is about to destroy her and His people will turn their faces, once again, to the LORD and to the land that He has given them; to the covenant that He has made with them. They were once lost, living in exile; because of their hard-heartedness and eagerness to follow false gods, false shepherds. But, now God will destroy those false shepherds who led them out of the land He had given them.

“My people have been lost sheep;
    their shepherds have led them astray
    and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill
    and forgot their own resting place.
Whoever found them devoured them;
    their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty,
for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture, 

   the Lord, the hope of their ancestors.’" (Jer 50:6-7 NIV)

No more! Those who say that they are not guilty, that they have no sin; those who have divided and scattered the flock will fall. Babylon will fall! The wolves in sheep clothing will fall! The Good Shepherd, Himself, will lead the remnant home.

“Israel is a scattered flock
    that lions have chased away.
The first to devour them
    was the king of Assyria;
the last to crush their bones
    was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

"I will punish the king of Babylon and his land
    as I punished the king of Assyria.
But I will bring Israel back to their own pasture,
    and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;
their appetite will be satisfied
    on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“search will be made for Israel’s guilt,
    but there will be none,
and for the sins of Judah,
    but none will be found,    
for I will forgive the remnant I spare." (Jer 50:17-20)

There are many false shepherds out there. Beware! If any prophet would put his own will and desires before the will of God, do not follow him. If any shepherd would put the ways of the world before The Way of Jesus, do not follow him. His own path will lead him to destruction and you do not want to be with him when he falls. Follow only in The Way that the LORD has prepared for you. "The LORD is our Shepherd, we shall not want. He makes us to lie down in green pastures. He leads us beside still water. He restores our soul..." (Psalm 23)

May God help us to keep our faces turned toward Him and to the Kingdom that has been promised to us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Not Afraid!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11 NIV)

Fear not! Don't be afraid! We read an awful lot in scripture that we are not to fear. We are not to be anxious about anything. Angels showing up and bringing you a message of peace actually would probably cause a little anxiety just in the fact that angels have shown themselves to you.

Yet, in the midst of anxious times, we can have peace. The angels proclaimed to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2: 14) This peace that God brings is kind of amazing. As we grow in the LORD, we will find that we do know a sense of peace no matter what kind of chaos is around us. It may still be troubling, but we can be at peace knowing that God has a good plan for it all.

The point is sometimes things happen in our lives that might cause us a little anxiety; but, we should know that God is with us and in that knowledge we can know peace no matter what is going on in our lives. Can you imagine a pregnant young woman and the man she was engaged to traveling cross country to sign up to pay taxes? When they get to their destination there is no place for them to stay so they stay in a barn where the baby is born. Can you imagine sitting in a field with the guys watching the sheep settle in for the night and you have this heavenly host singing in the heavens? I'm thinking it was probably, at least, a little unsettling. Yet, the shepherds listen to the angel and go and see this baby that is to bring peace to the world.

Anxiety and peace - sometimes you can have them almost simultaneously. Being anxious about something is human nature; yet, in the midst of unsettling times, we can know that God is with us and we can His peace that surpasses all understanding. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Gate To The Kingdom

Jesus is the only way through the gate into the Kingdom of God.

He is the gate.

Live life in the Kingdom. Live life in Christ.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 7:9-10

So who are you going to listen to? Whom will you follow? The thief or the one and only one who can give you abundant and eternal life. Jesus is that only one.

I find it very wearisome to have to keep explaining to the same lost sheep over and over again that they have been and are following a thief; a false shepherd, rather than the one who will lead them to our Father's home. These thieves; these false shepherds, that scatter the flock are nothing more than false gods. False gods cannot help you. There is only one God who can lead you into the Kingdom where you will know true peace and joy. You will know it in His presence.

I may find proclaiming the same message; the same warnings, to the same people, for decades wearisome. Yet, I will not let up for I know that the only way for them to truly experience life to it's fullest is to experience it in Christ. They must enter the Kingdom through the gate, who is Jesus the Christ, in order to truly live life.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deut 6:4-7 NIV

Do not let the thief come in to steal you away from your place in God's Kingdom. May God grant you the discernment to know who would lead you astray and ultimately destroy your life.

God's Peace - Pr. J