In this powerful Christmas devotional, join Salvation Army officer Rob Westwood-Payne as we uncover the surprising truth behind the first Christmas. Have you ever wondered why God chose to announce the birth of Jesus not to kings or religious leaders, but to a group of overlooked shepherds?

Tuesday 23 December 2025

This video dives deep into the radical inclusion at the heart of the Christmas story, exploring why these unlikely heroes were the first to receive the most extraordinary news in history. We’ll examine the social standing of shepherds in first-century Judea and discover how God’s choice challenges our assumptions about power, status, and who truly matters.

Through plain English and a warm, pastoral tone, Rob shares clear, practical teaching from the Bible (NLT), offering a fresh perspective on a familiar story. This devotional will strengthen your faith, encourage your heart, and reveal how God intentionally seeks out the marginalised and forgotten to be key players in his grand narrative.

Discover the profound message for every one of us who has ever felt ordinary or insignificant. The birth of Jesus proves that God’s kingdom is built on humility and radical inclusion, where the last are often first.

Key Takeaways:
- Why God chose shepherds to announce Jesus’ birth.
- The social context of shepherds in ancient Israel.
- God’s heart for the overlooked and marginalised.
- The radical message of inclusion in the Christmas story.
- Practical encouragement for those feeling ordinary or insignificant.

One Next Step: Reflect on who in your life might feel overlooked this Christmas, and how you can share God’s inclusive love with them.

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