Christmas in Chaos III

In the yearly iteration of Farming Simulator, you do exciting things like bale hay, lay seed, and till the ground. If that doesn’t sound like a thrilling time, you can also milk cows, pick fruit, and drive a tractor. While this game sounds as fun as watching paint dry*, Farming Simulator has sold over 4 million copies and won countless awards for its attention to detail and authenticity. It pays to be a farmer.

The best news in the world was given to the lowest class of workers. That is what Luke’s gospel prioritizes in the Jesus story. Angels made time for rural shepherds covered in sheep waste. Shepherds were considered unreliable and uneducated, thereby barring them from even serving as witnesses in court.

We all strive to excel in school, get a respectable career, and build a legacy, but that isn’t our highest priority in life. Angels went out of their way to tell the shepherds that a savior was born. They gave up their shifts at work to witness a life-changing miracle. That is dedication.

A college degree, a vast network, and vocational training are noble goals, but they don’t foster dedication and loyalty. The angels rewarded the lowest-paid caste with the greatest treasure, and in return, the shepherds accepted the gift for its actual value.

It’s easy to be like the rest of the world and disqualify people who aren’t as gifted or intelligent as you are, but remember that Jesus is the highest aspiration in our lives, and he wants to bring it to everyone. How will you respond?

Figure it Out:

8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” 15 It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Luke 2:8-15

  1. Circle any words or phrases that are significant to you. What makes them essential?
  2. What did the shepherds do with the good news? What was the logic of sharing it with the Shepherds?
  3. What is keeping you from responding to the good news like the Shepherds?

*Watching paint dry is also a game, btw

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