My family has loved doing advent devotionals for years, so I decided to write my own. I pray it blesses your family as much as it’s blessed mine.

You can purchase the whole book in print or in an ebook format on Amazon. You can download a printable set of ornaments here or draw or make your own!

Day 24: The Shepherds Tell Others

Picture / Ornament: Shepherd

Scripture: Luke 2:15-20; Acts 1:1-11; Matthew 28:18-20

Song: The First Noel

Song: I Love to Tell the Story

Another Song: Here I am to Worship

After these extraordinary messengers, the angels, appeared to the shepherds, do you know what the shepherds did? The first thing the shepherds did was to hurry to find the baby in the manger that the angels had told them about. They told Mary and Joseph what the angels had said, but do you know what else they did? They told other people what they’d seen and heard, too! The shepherds couldn’t stop themselves. They wanted everyone to know about this good news that the angels had told them about. They praised and glorified God for what they had heard and seen – both in their own hearts and minds, as well as telling other people.

When you get a really great present for Christmas, maybe a new puppy or a toy you’ve been waiting all year for, do you want to tell your best friend about it? My kids do!

In the last two recorded conversations that Jesus had with His disciples, Jesus told them to make disciples of all nations, from Israel to the very ends of the earth. Jesus wanted His followers to teach and baptize new believers. Jesus promised that He would always be with them. Jesus promised that His Holy Spirit would come upon them and give them power. Jesus wanted His followers to be His witnesses, testifying to others what they had heard and seen.

The shepherds were eyewitnesses to both the angels’ proclamation of good news and to the newborn baby Jesus whom they had found in the manger. The shepherds excitedly shared the good news about what they had seen and heard.

Likewise, Jesus’s followers, Peter and Matthew and Luke and John and many, many others, were used by God as His eyewitnesses to what they had seen and heard. They couldn’t keep this good news to themselves any more than the shepherds could! Peter and John told the Jewish leaders, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

We, too, can be eyewitnesses for Jesus! We can tell others what we have seen and heard and come to know. We can tell our friends, our family, and even people we meet around town about what the real meaning of Christmas is, so they, too, can know this GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY that God has given for ALL the PEOPLE. (Luke 2:10)

Today is a perfect day to thank God for this good news about our Savior Jesus and for the honor and privilege of being His messenger and witness today.

Remember … Christmas is all about Jesus.