Here’s another simple lesson from the shepherds. We’re in the fourth week of Advent, and our candles have symbolized:

• Hope
• Faith
• Joy
• Peace

But are the recipients of these wonderful gifts? The shepherds give us the answer: those who want to see for themselves.

When the choir of angels disappeared back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word that is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.”… The shepherds returned to their flock, ecstatic over what had happened. They praised God and glorified him for all they had heard and seen for themselves, just like the angel had said. (Luke 2.15, 20, TPT, emphasis mine)

Not everyone wants to experience God for themselves:

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” (Exodus 20.18, 19, NIV)

A friend of mine was trying to help his father learn to have daily time with God through the Word and prayer. His father told him, “Leave me alone! If my pastor wants me to know something from the Bible, he’ll tell me!”

God’s blessings are for active participants, not passive spectators.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2.1 – 6, NIV)