In the Gospel of Luke, we have the story of the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night (Luke 2:8-18). We usually associate this story with Christmas; however, there are some profound lessons found in this story.
This story illustrates that the Lord rewards faithful, humble people. These shepherds were people who were looking for the Messiah and, because they were faithfully doing their job in Bethlehem, they were present when the Lord showed up.
Like shepherding, prayer can be lonely at times. Prayer is often not esteemed important by many. Like the shepherds, we never know when the Lord is going to show up and answer our prayers or speak to us. If we are faithful to pray and believe the Lord, He will send an answer or speak to us in His time.
In order to get the answers in prayer that the Lord has for us, we also need to be in the place where we are supposed to be. If one of the shepherds had stayed home that night or decided to move his flock to a different field, he wouldn't have seen the angels, heard the message, or seen the baby Jesus.
Unknown shepherds received a life-changing message: "Messiah is born tonight in Bethlehem." Those who are faithful in prayer will often hear things from the Lord before others are aware. The lessons are: be faithful; be consistent; do the job you're supposed to be doing, whatever that may be. Those that are faithful, consistent, and believing will receive from the Lord answers and blessings.
