Tom points out that charter members include the lady ahead of you in the checkout line with a full cart, and lets you go first with your package of gum. Another member of the GNT Club is the man who pulls over on an icy highway, just to carefully get out and help lead others through the treacherous part. There is also the girl who sees the banana peel on the sidewalk, picks it up, and throws it into the trash. And don't forget the elderly couple holding hands while they watch the beautiful sunset. As the New Year of 2007 approaches, we would do well to revisit the season that has just passed. Why? Well, it just might be that the Christmas shepherds were members of this GNT Club—people who notice things, and, very unselfishly, do something about them.
First of all, the shepherds noticed the angel. You might be thinking, "Well, of course they saw the angel—how could they miss it? It was a rather dramatic appearance—…"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 2:9-11) How could you not notice that? And that wasn't even the fullness of it—the whole sky filled with the brilliant light of all the heavenly host, proclaiming, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (vs.14) How could anyone miss that? Well, Bethlehem and the whole surrounding region was jam packed with people responding to the required census, and they didn't seem to notice it—let alone do anything about it! Why is that?
Remember—angels are ministering spirits sent from God with a message. Only those with eyes of faith will really notice them, hear them, and believe their message. Now, don't think for a minute that I'm promoting New Age theology, with its "familiar spirits" and channeling. God's angels are, however, all around, drawing us to bless His holy name, and not the angels. Several years ago, during a late night downpour, an older African-American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway. Her car was disabled, so she tried to flag down someone to help her. Virtually unheard of in the racially charged 1960's, a young white man stopped and took her to where she could get assistance and a taxi. Even though she was in a hurry, she got his name and address and thanked him greatly. Within a few days, a beautiful console TV was delivered to the bewildered man, with a note that read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others. Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole." When you truly notice God's blessings, you will bless His name. Remember—there are spiritual ramifications when we notice things, so, with God's grace and direction, do something about them!
Secondly, the shepherds took notice of the Christ Child. The angel had told them—"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." (vs.12) Notice that the shepherds were never told what to do—they were just told what had happened, and what they would find if they did something about it. Praise God—they not only noticed the thing, but they responded to it—even right way! Do you see it? "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." (vss. 15,16)
Maybe we need to notice some things here, too. Notice that the angels were not "hanging" around, "lording" it over them—even making them do the right thing. The Lord is most certainly calling every one of us to surrender to His heart and take Him much more seriously—but He will not make us! He has been trying to make clear to us that life is not really about us and what we want—it is about Him and His glory—but He will not demand it. He draws, encourages, woos, butwillingly! Notice this, too—because the Lord had made it known to them, they knew it was a done deal—"which is come to pass." They didn't waste any time—they knew that their time was right then, so away they went. We must not shove the spiritual things before us aside, claiming we are too busy or too tired or too anything. I once heard of a college student who learned this lesson quite well. During a pop quiz, all was going well until he got to the last question—"What is the first name of the school's cleaning lady?" Surely this was some kind of joke—he had seen her many times, but to know her name? When the professor was asked if that question would count, he responded, "Absolutely—in your careers you will meet many people. Although they may seem to be insignificant to you in the whole scheme of things, they are not—every one of them counts! The student never forgot that, nor did he forget her name—Dorothy! Even the seemingly "unimportant" things of life must be received and allowed to change our hearts. Oh, sure, we don't have to, but we won't be right with God unless we do.
He does not force us to do something about it. Praise God—the shepherds went into town
Thirdly, notice it didn't end there—"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… And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." (vss. 17,18,20) The shepherds not only left their sheep in order to meet the Lamb of God, they then gave themselves fully for the eternal sake of others. Several years ago, a little girl named Liz had a very rare and serious disease. Her only hope was a blood transfusion from her five year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed antibodies to fight it. Taking a deep breath, he said he would do it. As they lay there side by side during the transfusion, the little boy smiled as he saw the color come back into her cheeks. Then his own face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"
Do you see what was happening? Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor in the first place—he thought he was giving all of his own blood in order to save his little sister. He thought he was giving his life for hers, and in a very real sense, because he was willing to do so, he was! God "noticed" our dire need to be free from life-threatening sin, and did something about it—sent our only Hope to be born in order to die, shedding all of His blood for our redemption. Then, like the shepherds, we more than receive that gift—we then give our entire lives in every way to the sharing of that Gospel. In this, we glorify and praise God for all the things that we have heard and seen. But first, we must notice our own sin-sick condition andand doing something about them—namely, surrendering to His Lordship and letting Him be our all in all? God has left the light on for us! Let the light of His love draw you away from the darkness of this perverse and sinful world, and into the safety and security of His heart. receive God's solution. As we now move into the New Year of 2007, will we join the GNT Club—noticing things
