The After Christmas Shepherd Sale Series

What would Christmas be without a good sale? After all who wants to pay retail for all those gifts you buy? “Pre Christmas” sales are what we like at Christmas time!

And when all the presents are opened and families visited what could be better than an “After Christmas” sale? Some love getting next years wrapping paper, ornaments, and left over fake Christmas trees for next to nothing. We like getting something for next to nothing. When you think about it, it almost makes you wish Christmas were over!

• Have you thought about Christmas this season beyond all the buying?

• Have you thought about why there is Christmas?

• Have you thought about what God was doing before Christmas?

• Have you thought about what happened after Christmas?

Luke 2:8-20 That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10 but the angel reassured them. "Don’t be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11 The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!" 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God: 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors." 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

Think about this thought … Nearly two thousand years ago peace and joy came after Christmas. (James N. Watkins)

We tend to put lock, stock and barrel into Christmas day … the getting of gifts (some wanted and some not wanted), and after all the gifts have been opened and there’s nothing under the tree … well it is anticlimactic, to say the least. Christmas is over for another year.

Oh I know we enjoy our gifts for a while, but let’s face it, we begin to think about packing up Christmas and all its cheer for another year and about having to go back to work and school and everything else that is fairly normal to us.

God on the other hand wrapped up His gift, His Son, and laid Him in a manger. And then He told a bunch of ragged tagged shepherds to come and they in turn went out to announce the “after Christmas shepherd sale.”

Luke 2:17-20 NLT Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

The after Christmas shepherd sale speaks of …

• Treasuring …

The scriptures tell us the “magi” opened up their treasures to Christ… and Mary, the mother of Jesus, treasured the things that happened on CHRISTmas.

A treasure is something that is of great value and worth.

The scriptures speak of God treasuring His people (Deut 7:6; 1 Pt 2:9)

I have to believe the shepherds treasured the message by the angels, and the viewing of the Messiah as a moment of truth in the highest regards. It was more than a sentimental moment, but a God-moment where the reality of eternity entered their hearts and lives.

Treasure not the season but the Savior of this season of Christmas.

Treasure Christ. Discover and find the value of the message of His life and work so as to store up treasures not in this world, but for heaven that is written on our hearts.

• Telling …

The shepherds after Christmas began telling others what had been told to them.