The Overlooked

Have you ever seen a picture or video of a president arriving into a new city and stepping off his jet ? The arrival of someone important is met with a greeting from other important people. The large crowd waiting to greet him may include the press, journalists, and usually some other important people. After his arrival, there is a continued celebration while eager onlookers stand by the roadside watching the presidential caravan drive by. 

If that’s the greeting a president gets, you’d expect the arrival of the Son of God & the King of Kings to be something amazing! However, upon Jesus’ birth into the world, the first to hear of his birth weren’t kings, governors, presidents, or prime ministers. There were no CEOs, YouTube influencers, or celebrities around to welcome him, but instead, God showed up to night-shift shepherds in a field nearby. 

If you were creating a welcome committee for Jesus in Israel, some 2,000 years ago, you would never have invited a group of shepherds to be part of it. They were unimportant, overlooked, and the forgotten people of society. In a field at night, a large number of angels came to these shepherds to present to them this message, “Good News of great joy that will be for all the people.” The good news came first to social outcasts - the forgotten, the rejects, and the overlooked. 

Reflect: If God would intentionally invite those who feel forgotten to be the first to experience his tangible presence entering the world - how might God be inviting you to experience Him in a new way this Christmas? If you feel forgotten, God still has a plan for you. 

Pray: “Thank you for bringing good news to me and to all those who feel forgotten and overlooked. Help me today to be reminded of your love for me and that you are inviting me into your special story.”