The nativity scene

There are so many people in the world who have their little nativity scenes set up in their homes. It's interesting that they have them in their front yards as well. Some time ago it became common practice to put the lights out and not put baby Jesus in the scene until Christmas day. But you always have your usual players, Mary and Joseph, the donkeys, goats, and different animals. They are set up under a make shift awning made to resemble a stable. Some people go ahead and place the shepherds there and some even add the wisemen even though they arrived some time later. But, for me I like to study each of these groups and figure them out and their importance.
I know most of us see that the shepherds are important because it was God's way of showing the world that He sent His Son to all people and all walks of life from rich to poor, from powerful to powerless. That is a great way to look at it, but the interesting thing is that we see the need for evangelism even in the birth story. The shepherds immediately take off to share what they have found.
The true root of evangelism is to reach new people for Christ and to impact the kingdom of God. But, at the root of it all is the need for excitement. Many people have been believers for 50 years or more, in my case I am entering the 25 years or more group. THe excitement and enthusiasm is rarely later in life what it is when it is first experienced. We need to reach the lost, we need new converts in our churches because that is what creates the buzz to reach more of the lost.
Luke 2:16-20 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shpeherds said to them. BUt Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the thins they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
The shepherds found Jesus, and they told everyone who would listen. That is the perfect picture of when the lost find Him today. THey tell everyone who will listen, it's new, it's exciting and it is life transforming. We need to remember this every time we have a chance to share Jesus with the lost, a revival great or small will break out every time we reach someone for CHrist.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!