The angel gave the shepherds a sign; "You will find the Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12. The sign was not unusual. All babies were wrapped up tight in pieces of cloth. And most shepherd babies were laid in mangers because that's where shepherds live. Probably most of those shepherds had laid their newborns in mangers. The sign pointed them to look for Jesus right where they lived their lives.
When God reveals Himself to you it will be right where you are living. He comes to you with a Word to lead you in a new direction. They could find Him because they knew where the mangers were. But would they go and see what they had heard?
"Lets go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that The Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste..." It wasn't something an angel had made known to them. They knew it was a Word from God. And they went "with haste." The Greek word for "haste" is speedo. Sound like any English words you know? We get our word "speed" and of course the racing bathing suit company used this Greek word. Not really a Christmas image, but none the less... The point is they did not hang around wondering about the angel army or discussing the theology of what " peace on earth good will toward men with whom His favor rests." means. They just went quickly to see what they had heard!
Faith comes by hearing. But hearing is more than just hearing something. Hearing involves both ears and eyes. We "hear" with our eyes as much as we do our ears and we "see" with our ears as much as we do with our eyes. The point is that when God reveals Himself with a Word, you must "go and see...," which means to obey. Understanding follows obedience, not the other way around.
Many want to know God's Will so they can do it. God will not reveal His Will to you so you can do it. He is not the least bit interested in you trying to do His Will. God desires for you to trust Him and choose His Will for your life, by faith. God grants wisdom concerning His Will to those who trust Him. Understanding follows the obedience of faith. God gives wisdom to those who trust Him. As you trust Him, He opens your eyes and ears to see what He is doing (His Will) and has included you and invited you in on. You get great joy and He gets great glory. That's how it ended up in Luke with the shepherds. It also says that some heard the announcement of the shepherds and just wondered about it. They did not go and see, with speedo, like the shepherds did.
Don't wonder all your life about what God has said...go and see!!!
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