Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Hayward Tucker
A Light Sleeper

When a woman has her first baby, her sleeping routine immediately changes because her ears are attuned to the newborn’s cry. Yes, the mother sleeps but her ears do not. I became a light sleeper from the time my babies were born until many years later. Listening and acting upon the newborn’s faintest cry is imperative for a child’s healthy psyche. A deep bond of love is established during these tender, early years.

If believers want to mature in the Lord properly and be spiritually strong, we must attune our ears and hearts to listen for God’s still, small voice. Personally, I believe He’s speaking every day, but if we’re
afraid to be quiet and put life on mute for a few minutes, we simply can’t hear Him above the roar of our culture. Everything God says to us is important, even if you think it’s not. For example, God may be
impressing upon you to reach out to someone but you procrastinate and never get around to it.

If you ever hope to do big things for God, then you have to start by being obedient in the little things. And what you might consider little, the person you neglected could possibly consider it big. For example, someone feeling sad and lonely could be greatly encouraged by a phone call if only you’d take the time to
do it!

Some believers have the mistaken idea that when God speaks to us it will be grandiose, earth-shattering, and loud. Scripture indicates that’s not usually God’s style. Let’s refer to when God spoke to the prophet Elijah: “’Go out and stand before Me on the mountain,’ the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and
went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (I Kings 19:11-13 NLT).

God already knew what Elijah was doing, but He asked the question just to get Elijah to think straight. The following anonymous quote is from an old “Way of Faith” publication: “The reason that many of us
do not know and better understand God is we do not give heed to His gentle checks, His delicate restraints and constraints. His is a still, small voice. A still voice can hardly be heard. It must be felt as a steady, gentle pressure upon the heart and mind like the touch of a morning zephyr to your face. A small voice, quietly, almost timidly spoken in your heart, but if heeded growing noiselessly clearer to your inner ear. His voice is for the ear of love, and love is intent upon hearing even faintest whispers. He is love, and if you would know Him and His voice, we must give constant ear to His gentle touches. Simply listen, obey and trust God even when it seems highest folly to do so.”

The Key: Be a light sleeper toward God’s still, small voice. And then act upon it to form a strong and loving relationship with Him.

Have you ever looked at your manger scene, placed prominently for everyone who enters your home, and wondered why your life seems like a mess compared to the peace presented by the creche?  Mary, prayerfully kneeling before her newborn baby.  Joseph standing nearby, pondering how God would use this infant to accomplish His purposes.  Shepherds, dirty and overlooked, who were invited by angels into a scene they could not understand.  Magi, men who (we pretend) were there after this God-birth happened. And baby Jesus himself, tucked into the straw of a dirty manger.

Luke 2 tells us that after the birth of Jesus, a host of angels appeared to the straggly shepherds and told them to travel to Bethlehem.  At first terrified, the shepherds soon put away their fears and hurried to view this newborn. Estimates are they traveled between two and six miles, all at night. After their encounter with the Messiah, they “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.”  All who heard the shepherds’ report were “amazed” by this report (not amazed like we are when our daughter makes cheerleader or when the stock market takes an up-turn).  The Greed word used here for “amazed” is “thaumazo”; it means stopped in their tracks.

There they were, looking at God in human form, the One who was the answer to all the scriptures they had learned.  One minute, caring for helpless, stupid sheep, and the next…looking at perfection.  Heaven had come to the hillside in the middle of the night, proving that God’s presence isn’t limited to Holy places or to Holy people.  God had not chosen kings or Levitical priests or religious Pharisees to announce His coming in human form.  He chose a group of men who had no credentials.  No surprises there.  After all, He delights in using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.

What does surprise me is what the shepherds did after this miraculous encounter.  Unlike many of us, they did not go on a speaking circuit or write a book or sit at the gate to their city, signing autographs.  Scripture says that they returned to their sheep.  They went back to herding and protecting animals that follow each other off cliffs.  They returned with gladdened, worshipful hearts and tongues filled with praise to do what they knew how to do.

I frequently meet people who want to have the celebratory experience of speaking to huge crowds of people, when instead, God wants them to be used right where they are, no matter how mundane their job status or where they live. All can learn from this story.  From humble beginnings to divine callings, shepherds are integral figures in this biblical narrative, serving as symbols of faith, humility, and divine favor.  We need to do likewise.

No matter where we work or live, we all have the opportunity to follow the lead of the shepherds: to obey, to follow, to worship and to share.  As Christmas approaches, let us all be mindful of our call to do the same.