Come Near

 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”  Luke 2:8

The shepherds on my coffee table nativity seem to have it all together. They appear well-rested, well-fed, and well-dressed. They fit easily into the company of the majestic magi and the angelically-approved holy family. 

Not so in real life. Shepherds lived at the bottom of the social ladder and plenty kept them from moving up. Shepherds looked unkept, acted uncouth, and smelled unclean. They weren’t allowed to worship in church or witness in court. They were plain, practical, and poor.

 But on that first Christmas night, while others were nestled all snug in their beds, the shepherds were busy keeping watch over their flocks making sure no hungry lion or famished bear dropped by for a midnight snack. In a flash, God’s glory obliterated the darkness and an angel declared, “Joy To The World! The Lord Is Come! Today!  He’s just been born. You’ll find him gift-wrapped in cloth, lying in a feed trough.” And in the first-ever holiday rush, those fearful-turned-faithful shepherds left their sheep and their security to seek and find joy in the presence of the Savior.

 When God came here, whom did He call to come near? The shepherds. The very ones kept far from God’s Presence at the temple came face to face with God’s Present in the manger. The outcasts were invited, and the ones considered not good enough couldn’t get there fast enough.

 They came with haste. We shouldn’t be far behind them.