Shepherds Wonder: Discovering Contentment in the Divine Presence

Intro

We human beings have a strange relationship with darkness. On the one hand we’re a bit scared of it, while at other times we seek it.

Why? What do we like about darkness and what do we hate about it?

Luke 2:8 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

By night, Two simple but profound words.

How many nights do you think have passed since God created the first night?

If you believe as some do that the earth is around 4.5 billion years old, then that means something like 1.6 trillion nights that have come and gone since the first night. And if you’re a young earth advocate and believe the age of earth is only around 10,000 years old, it means that 3,652,500 nights have passed.

Whatever your view is, of all the nights that have ever been, this ONE NIGHT mentioned in verse one, was and is unlike any other that has or ever will exist! For on that night something was set in motion that changed the world forever. On that night eternal peace and contentment was born.

Has that peace and contentment settled in your soul?

My guess, is no! We’re human and we struggle with peace and contentment, why?

Luke 2:9 ESV

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

Fear. We talked about this last week fear is the underlying root of all discontentment.

If fear is at the root of discontentment, what’s the weapon we can use to combat it?

If contentment is obtained by surrender and maintained by obedience, what is thing that ushers us into the presence and proximity of God?

Wonder.

Luke 2:10 ESV

10 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.

God want’s to replace our fear w/joy - the bridge from fear to joy is wonder.

What get’s in the way is our preference for darkness.

John 3:19–20 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

Why don’t we love the light? Because it makes us feel naked and exposed.

Adam and eve - naked and ashamed after partaking of the fruit and so they ran from God out of fear! This is how we live.

Yet Christ came on Christmas to bring about something new for us.

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

A Savior was born! Expound on this - present the gospel and the impact of the gospel

Luke 2:12 ESV

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Savior born as a baby, wrapped in swaddling cloths - provide context how these would have been the burial cloths for Mary if she died on their journey. Compare that with the Shepherds and the gifts of the Magi, to emphize the impact of the gospel. Jesus came down to earth, allowed himself to be bound by death but not defeated by death. Christ beat the advesary that to us has the weight of finality - but not to God, to God death bows. And if death bows to this baby born in bethlehem, so should we! We should respond like the Magi offering our lives as a living sacrifice.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

What was the shepherd’s response to hearing the good news of the gospel that a savior had come?

Luke 2:8–14 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:15 ESV

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, 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.”

Are you pursuing Jesus amidst the darkness of this season? Amidst your stress? Amidst your fear, are you responding to the gospel with pursuit of your Savior?

Luke 2:16 ESV

16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

I wonder if the reason you’ve lost contentment is because you’ve lost you’re wonder for Jesus. You’ve lost the thing that drew you in the first time.

You’ve heard the gospel, heard the Word of God like the shepherds in the field and maybe you responded but where are you now? Are you still in the fields or searching for the manger with haste?

“they went with haste” - expound on this. Tyranny of the urgent and todos amidst finals takes precedence over time in God’s presence.

and when they left they left forever changed

Luke 2:17–18 ESV

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

They were so overjoyed they couldn’t help but share the hope they had recieved.

Luke 2:20 ESV

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

They could’t help but respond in Worship.

Wonder leads us to worship.

Summarize:

1. Wonder is the weapon we use to combat the fear underlying our discontentment.

2. Wonder is magnet that pulls us into the presence of God.‌

3. Wonder leads us to worship.

I posed the question: I wonder if the reason you’ve lost contentment is because you’ve lost your wonder for who Jesus is?

Wonder is the way in which contentment is amplified in our life.

ACTION: In the midst of fear and discontentment God is asking you to have a sense of wonder and to respond in Worship!