January 24 - With Haste

Read: Luke 2:8-20

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (Luke 2:7, 16 ESV)

One night long ago some lowly shepherds were hanging out in the pasture doing whatever it is that shepherds do when an angel appeared. The angel shared the news of Jesus' birth, proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah, and a full blown angelic musical broke out. There is a great life principle to be found in how the shepherds responded. The bible says, "they went with haste."

Their response is something for us all to learn from. For hundreds of years the Jews had been waiting for the promised king. When the angel announced his arrival the shepherds believed it was true. They didn't dawdle or waste time. They went with haste. They responded to the Good News with an immediacy we should all aspire to.

How often do we feel like God has promised something to us only to react lethargically, with hesitation, or doubt when He delivers? The shepherds went with a haste born of their faith in the Father. They embraced God's plan and promise. They believed in Jesus, worshipped Jesus, and immediately began to share the Good News about the arrival of Jesus.

Believe God has a plan for your life. Share God's plan for your life. Run to God's plan for your life.