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..there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them…And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord…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 among those with whom he is pleased!”…the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste...

Shepherds — the outcasts of their day. They smelled like the animals they worked with. They were considered ceremonially unclean, meaning they were excluded from temple worship. Shepherds had daily contact with the carcasses of the animals they tended, and under Jewish ceremonial law they could not be in the temple. But it makes sense that “unclean” shepherds would be the first to come to Christ, because it’s on the basis of uncleanliness that we approach Christ. It’s the sick who are in need of The Great Physician.

God could have chosen anyone to notify of the coming of Christ. He could have dispatched angels to the Chief Priests, Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees or other religious leaders. Or he could’ve chose great political figures or military leaders, people with power!  But instead, the underdog, the lowly, stinky, forgotten shepherds. What sort of God is ths?!?! He is the same God who is still seeking humble people to use for his glory. That hasn’t changed. It’s not about your occupation, social status, past, or popularity. It’s about having heart in need of Christ. Where is your heart this Christmas? Are we, like the lowly shepherds, eager to WORSHIP Jesus? Let’s not, in our pride, miss our opportunity to WORSHIP the King who is WORTHY.