Week 3, Wednesday: God Picks Hicks

Read Luke 2:15-20

Shepherds were not known for their wealth or power. They were low on the totem pole when it came to social status. They also had a reputation for being thieves and cheats. Rabbis discouraged people from buying anything from a shepherd, because chances were it was stolen goods.

So it makes you wonder: Why would God choose people like that to announce the arrival of Jesus? Why would they be the first ones on the scene? Who is going to even believe them?

God has never gone for the impressive choice, humanly speaking. He chose Moses to be his spokesman, when Moses hated public speaking. He chose little David to be king instead of his big tall brothers. He chose Paul to represent him when Paul had been trying to kill his followers.

Why would he do that? The answer seems to be "Because he wants to." None of us are chosen by him for what we bring to the table -- we're just chosen. That way God is the one who gets the glory (See 1 Corinthians 1:27-31). When we're not under the impression we were selected on our merits, it frees us up to focus our attention on God instead of ourselves. We can just be grateful.

Look how the shepherds responded: They got up and did what God asked, they believed, they praised God and they spread the news. What an awesome example for the rest of us.