Luke 2:15-20

¹⁵ 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.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Notice the progression:

Hear. The shepherds had just heard the news from an angel that Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Believe. Now we witness them believing the reported event “has come to pass”.

Act. And so they determine to act in response, “Let us now go to Bethlehem”. The action is a manifestation of the belief.

Encounter. As a result, they encounter the Savior, “the Baby lying in a manger”. Had they had failed to act, they wouldn’t have encountered Him. But how can those who believe not act?

Share. Having “seen” Him, they make “widely known” the news. Notice, it is after this personal encounter with the Savior that they are able to share the news of Him in such a way that people “heard” and “marveled”. And so the process is primed to repeat.

Praise. The scene closes with our shepherds “glorifying and praising God” thanks to what they had “heard and seen”. Again we witness the news ("heard") accompanied by the encounter ("seen"); the repeated story along with the original personal testimony.

Hear. Believe. Act. Encounter. Share. Praise.