Briefing: If you find yourself working on Christmas day, you are not alone. As a young officer, I worked several Christmas Eves, Christmas Days, and Thanksgivings. This is just part of the job. If you do find yourself working the holidays, here is a bit of encouragement for you.

Assignment: Read Luke 2:1-21.

On the Street: Merry Christmas! Today, let’s take a break from our regular devotional and focus specifically on the Christmas season.

If you’re on the front line of law enforcement, chances are you could be working this Christmas. I will be on duty (midnights) Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That’s just part of the job. God bless you for your service and sacrifice. In Christmas’ past, the shift has usually been very slow and uneventful.

If you get a moment, I urge you to look to another group of workers who were on duty that night. Their shift was interrupted with a supernatural visit of the angel of the Lord. They were given news of arguably one of the greatest events in the history of mankind. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12 NIV. The question is, what would you do with this news? So, what ARE you doing with this news?

I love the fact that this news was given to a group of people who were classified and categorized by their profession. They worked in a job that most of the population despised and would be embarrassed to be associated with. Does this sound familiar? In today’s culture, peace officers are looked at as corrupt and untrustworthy. We are what is known as “a necessary evil”. I believe this puts us in an outstanding position to hear God’s Word and respond the same way the shepherds responded.

Here is the response of the shepherds. In Luke 2:16-20 NIV we read, “So they (the shepherds) hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” There is not much to add. Their response was the correct response. What will our response be?

Investigational Resources: Matthew’s account can be found from 1:18 through 2:12.

Officer Safety Principle: My prayer is that we will have the same response as the shepherds.

©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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