After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:17, 20 CSB)

God chose shepherds as the first people to hear the news about Jesus’ birth. That’s a beautiful thought on its own, and one we’ve talked about previously.

But what’s also interesting is how the shepherds respond to this news. Faith is not passive but active. God acts, then we react. And the shepherds’ reaction is worth imitating.

The shepherds see. 

After hearing about Jesus, they go and investigate. They look for themselves. This is important for us to do as well. The New Testament and its message about Jesus are worth our consideration. Can the Gospel accounts be trusted? Did the resurrection really happen? Is Jesus alive and calling me today? These are questions worth exploring. We need to see for ourselves.

The shepherds tell. 

After seeing Jesus, they tell others about Him. They realize that Jesus’ birth is good news for everyone, so they spread the word. We do this in all kinds of areas. When we see something great, we naturally tell others. The gospel is no different.

The shepherds worship. 

The text says they returned “glorying and praising God”. This can take many forms. We should worship in our words, by praying and thanking God continually. We should worship with singing. We should worship with our actions, living righteously and pursuing love and justice in the world.

To know Jesus, we’d be wise to learn from the shepherds.