And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Luke 2:8-10

I love how each of the Advent candles remind us of different aspects of Christmas: Prophesy: That Christ’s nativity was foretold long before it happened. God wasn’t making it up as it happened. Bethlehem: That Christ’s nativity took place in a real place. This is no fairytale. But I especially love the Shepherd’s candle! Here is why:

God told the good news of Christ’s nativity first to people who were not only not great, they were lowly. Socially, shepherds were looked down upon, if they were noticed at all. And the Lord saved me! A person of no particular distinction.

God told the shepherds while they were at work—“keeping watch over their flocks at night.” The Lord saved me through the witness of a Christian with whom I was working.

God told the shepherds “good news that causes great joy.” And they responded by going to Jesus, and then by telling others about their encounter with Jesus. I can vividly remember:

How Christ and the gospel, thrilled me.
How I was drawn to the Lord and to His Church.
And how, excited I was to tell others about Jesus.

Though the details of our individual salvation experiences are not identical in every detail, I pray that our reactions to coming to faith in Christ bear these similarities.

To God be the glory!