With each coming Christmas, I look forward with eager anticipation to joyous festivities celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth and mankind’s redemption from death, sin, and sorrow because of Him. I also cherish deliberate moments of remembering and acknowledging those pious and humble figures who welcomed the Savior of the world to this earth. I love and revere every one of them. I marvel at their nobility, their bravery, their resolution – their everything!
This year, I have been pondering the hillside shepherds for many days. I loved them before, but I have come to be undeniably more grateful for them this year. This Christmas, I appreciate anew what they have taught me about abiding. The account in Luke 2 says:
“…And there were in the same country shepherds abiding
in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night…” 1
This is the part of the story that has especially stirred my soul this season. I love that these blessed shepherds “came with haste.” 2 In my mind’s eye, I can see them – perhaps tunics tied up – running near breathless through the hillside, eager to find their King. After they found Him, like all converted disciples, “they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” 3
But before they went with haste, what were they doing? They were “abiding in the field.”4 They were “keeping watch over their flock.” 5 When? In the dark. At night, when the threat of thieves and predators could be greatest, when the advantage of light was absent, here were these conscious shepherds devotedly abiding in the field with their sheep. Watching. Alert for any potential danger, any need to intervene. Wandering critters need such duty-bound shepherds! And they had them! They were on post. They didn’t abandon their shepherding obligations. They were resolute; they were ready. And when the angel came, they heard, hearkened, and hastened.
It is the dutifulness of these ancient shepherds, the abiding, the fulfilling their post of responsibility that has deeply impressed me this Christmas. Reading and pondering their part in the First Christmas story has led me to moments of self-evaluation, asking needful questions. Where am I in my post of responsibility? Am I abiding in steadfastness, in diligence, in love, in covenant commitment? What sheep are under my stewardship, and how am I abiding in my watch care over them? What predators loom near? How can I best help my sheep in the moments of fading light and ensuing darkness? What are ways I can tenaciously stick to my task of abiding in great and diligent love? What questions can I ask to better learn how to abide from the supreme example of my Good Shepherd? Am I lingering in the past, am I fretting about the future, or am I simply abiding – in full shepherd mode – in the here, in the now, in the very moment, in the station of life in which God has currently placed me?
I don’t have all the answers, but God be thanked, I am so fortunate to have the example of these First Christmas hillside shepherds. From them, I have learned much more this season about what it means to abide. From an online dictionary, I have been reminded that to abide means to heed, to uphold, to observe, and to stick to your task. 6 I formulated a four-fold “abiding gift” that I want to give My Good Shepherd this Christmas and beyond. First, I want to do a better job of heeding heavenly communications to my heart. I want to pay particular attention to that organ: what it feels, what emotions circle there, what promptings settle in those chambers, what God is asking of me by what He sends there to that place.
I want to be welded with God by putting aside human distractions and heeding His voice as it comes to my heart. Yes, I want to abide by heeding! Secondly, I want to offer an improved gift of abiding by upholding. Upholding my Christian walk by actually walking it better. Upholding the cause of Christ by more passionately and openly declaring it. Upholding the promises of God to me by choosing more belief in them. Upholding the work of Christ by championing every good cause. Supporting and uplifting one another better. Advocating for truth.
Yes, I want to abide by upholding! Next, how needful to true shepherding are observing eyes! I want to see more clearly, more quickly, more righteously! I yearn to “observe, then serve,” as Sister Burton once admonished us. 7 Yes, I want to better abide by observing! Lastly, help me dear Father to stick to the current task, the present situation – whatever it be – from Thee. In marriage. In child-rearing. In singleness. In my calling. In my ministering assignments. Across the globe. Across the street. In poor health. In abundance. In joy. In sorrow. In all seasons. In all assignments. In all posts of sacred responsibility. Yes, I want to abide by sticking to my task! I want to abide. Better than I have in the past. With more devotion. With more diligence. With pledged resolution. With increased fervor and zeal. Out of love. Because of love.
Our Good Shepherd who continuously comes to our protection and rescue “with haste” really needs earthly shepherds who stand purposefully and decisively at their posts, and this Christmas I pledge to become a better one for Him. I offer Him my willingness to abide by better heeding, improved upholding, increased observing and serving, and with a sure determination to firmly stick to my task.
I’ll never get over the shepherds of the First Christmas, and I’ll for sure never get over the Good Shepherd who saves my soul! My desire this Christmas is to abide in shepherding for Him. Come, dear Christian friends of the covenant, you are invited, too.
- Luke 2:8
- Luke 2:16
- Luke 2:17
- Luke 2:8
- Luke 2:8
- com: abide
- Linda K. Burton, “First Observe, Then Serve,” November 2020
EdgarDecember 21, 2023
Wow! A very compelling article. Powerful enough that helped me to abide with my post as a loving husband.