“So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.”
Luke 2: 15 -17  NKJV

The shepherds heard the message from heaven the first Christmas and they acted upon it. They did not remain idle, but decided to go and see what had happened. As a result of their action, they saw and experienced that which the angel had told them was true.

We hear the word of God today in every divine service. It is crucial that hearing should lead to action. The word which we hear in the divine service must accompany us so that it becomes a guideline for our own actions. What results from such action? Experience. We want to experience the Lord in His activity, the blessings of God, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Hearing and acting lead to experiencing. We should plead more to experience the Lord and to see the greatness of His work.

CONTEMPLATION:
What can I do this week to put my faith into action?