THE COMMITMENT CONFIRMING HOPE

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  ‎And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  ‎Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  ‎And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  ‎But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  ‎Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.  (Luke 2:15-20)

Hope makes a difference!  Where there is genuine hope there is great impact.  That is seen in the commitment modeled by these shepherds who saw the coming of hope.

Think about THE BASIS OF COMMITMENT: FAITH as seen here, “So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’”  (v.15) 

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.   A celestial messenger had spoken and faith was inspired.  They didn’t debate or delay—they decided to believe.

This led to THE BEHAVIOR OF COMMITMENT: ACTION witnessed in their urgent response, “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. (v.16) 

Their faith produced works.  True faith always does.  It is impossible to have faith, hope and love—this holy trinity of virtues and fail to be moved to action.  They had faith in the message, hope in the event, and love for the Lord which generated their eager response.

It ended in THE BLESSING OF COMMITMENT: WORSHIP unfolding thus, “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  ‎And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  ‎But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  ‎Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”  (v.17-20) 

How could they be silent?  They praised God and proclaimed the Gospel!  So will we when we have hope!  A heart brim-full of hope overflows in joyous testimony.

If you want to glorify God—and that is the chief end of our existence—then bring your life into alignment with God’s will.  You do this by imitating these shepherds with hope that commits you to faith, obedience and worship.