As suddenly as they had appeared, the angels departed, leaving the shepherds alone under the vast, starry sky. The heavenly chorus had ceased, and the glory of the Lord that had illuminated the fields faded into the quiet of the night. But the shepherds were not the same. Their hearts still pounding from the miraculous encounter were filled with wonder and urgency. They turned to one another and exclaimed, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us!” (Luke 2:15).

They did not wait. There were no deliberations about their responsibilities or the risk of leaving their flocks unattended. How could they delay when the Savior, the Christ, was in Bethlehem? When God’s word instructs us, it requires immediate action motivated by love. With haste, they ran toward the small town, their anticipation building with every step.