Giving gifts is one of my favorite things, especially gifts for my niece and nephew. I spend a lot of time thinking about the perfect gift to get them, and I am so excited to give them the gift. Unfortunately, sometimes my enthusiasm to give them gifts does not match their enthusiasm to receive them, and their responses when opening the gifts I give are slightly underwhelming. They are learning to say "thank you" and be appreciative, but this gratitude is still a work in progress. The truth is, they are learning what we are all still learning: gratitude. You see, the only appropriate response when we receive a gift is gratitude, and expressing that gratitude honors the gift-giver.
The first people to hear about the birth of Christ were the shepherds, and when they learned that the greatest gift had come, they expressed their gratitude. Their story is found in Luke 2. The night Jesus was born, a group of shepherds was out doing what shepherds do: taking care of their sheep. Suddenly their ordinary evening became extraordinary. An angel appeared telling them, "the Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—[had] been born" (verse 11). The angel also gave them instructions about how they would find the baby (verse 12). Next, a host of angels joined this angel, and they all praised God (verses 13-14). After the angels left, the shepherds found Jesus exactly how the angel told them they would find Him. Finally, they returned to their sheep to continue their jobs. They were not the same people they were before they found Jesus. They went back, "glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen" (verse 20).
The shepherds responded to the gift of Jesus in the only appropriate way: gratitude. They praised God for what He had done for humanity. But, they did not just praise God in the moment; they praised God when they were back at their jobs, starting back at their everyday routines. You see, gratitude does not need only to be expressed at the moment. It is for all times. This includes the gratitude we express on Christmas.
Christmas was two days ago. Maybe your tree is down, and the lights are no longer shining brightly on the tree. Or décor may be down or soon-be-coming-down, and the lights of Christmas may be fading, but our gratitude never fades. When we practice this gratitude, the wonder of Christmas lasts forever. May we never get over the gift of Jesus and all He has done for us!
Take the next few minutes to read Luke 2:8-20. As you read, listen to your favorite worship song. If you have Spotify, listen to the Sagebrush Artist playlist while you read. After reading, sing along with the worship song and praise God for Jesus and all He has done for you, especially for the gift of Jesus.
"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."
