Text: Luke 2:120

Topic: How God cares even about social outcasts

Introduction

Could the same God who created the stars I see and all things know and care about us shepherds?

People say we shepherds are strange, but I like living in the open.

The thing about sheep is they need a shepherd, and people are a lot like sheep.

They are always wandering off or getting in trouble.

I care about I know every sheep by name.

The townsfolk say we shepherds are unclean, unacceptable.

They say we're thieves, blaming us for anything they are missing.

Living out in the hills, we can't follow the Jewish laws about food, washing, and clothing.

Illustration: Once, when delivering sheep to the temple, I was not allowed to go in.

One night on my watch I saw a glow in the air that took the shape of a man.

He said, "Don't be afraid. Unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

We had to go down to Bethlehem and see if there was really a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger.

When we found them, the baby's father said, "His name is Jesus, the one who saves."

Kneeling down next to the manger, I felt closer to God than I've ever felt before.

The angel had said, "Unto you is born a Savior," as if he could see that I needed a savior.

Conclusion

I used to sing a song written by David, that started, "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me," and as I got older, I wondered if it was true—now I know it is.

I'll never get tired of looking at the night sky, because I'll know that God is up there thinking about me.