Advent Devotional Week 4

The Visit that Changed Everything

December 23, 2012

Luke 2:15-20

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”  So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The shepherds made a choice.  They heard the message that the angels brought to them from God.  They witnessed a great concert of praise.  They had that powerful and life changing experience and their response was to go and do.  This meant that they had to leave their jobs while still on duty.  It caused them to take a risk and to break with what was expected.  Yet they decided to go and see.  An experience with God brings with it an opportunity to choose.  The Lord invites His people to “go and see” what He is doing.  Sadly, we often let other things stop us from going and seeing what the Lord has for us.  Perhaps this Christmas we can choose differently.

Sure enough, they listened to the angels, followed their directions, and found Jesus just as he was described.  At this point they were no longer shepherds.  They were messengers.  They were a blessing to Mary and Joseph.  Mary treasured what the shepherds had to tell her.  They were the confirmation of everything the angels had told Mary and Joseph.  They brought joy to what was surely a difficult night.  Then the shepherds went back to work.  Everyone they met they shared the Good News with.  Their lives and their words were praise to God.  The shepherds as examples of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  May we be like them. Let’s be a blessing.  Let’s share the message.  Let’s praise the Lord! 

Advent Devotional Week 3

The Good News that Changed Everything

December 16, 2012

Luke 2:8-14

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

The first to go see the Messiah are shepherds.  Shepherds aren't clean.  They do not smell good.  They are not highly respected an influential parts of society.  They aren't wealthy or powerful.  Yet they are the ones to whom the angel appears.  The Lord chose to give the greatest message the world had ever know to everyday people that the world tended to overlook.  God sees what the world does not.  The message of the Lord is for all people, including those that the world does not value.  The things of heaven are sometimes best seen in the most humble of people and places.

The shepherds were terrified.  This is a common and natural reaction to an angel’s appearance.  They did not consider themselves worthy of the message the Lord was giving them.  Yet they listened.  When the angel says not to fear, they did not debate the point.  They heard the Good News and did not run away from what God had for them.  How many of us have run away from the Good News?  We ignore, avoid, disconnect, or rationalize away the things of God far too often.  Simply by staying and listening these shepherds heard an angelic concert of praise.  Who else has ever heard such a thing?  How beautiful and life changing must that have been?  Are we missing the message God has for us?  Let’s listen this Christmas.

Advent Devotional Week 2

The Manger that Changed Everything

December 9, 2012

Luke 2:5-7

He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in a manger.  A manger is not beautiful.  It is not special.  A manger is where newborn sheep are placed so they do not hurt themselves.  It is also used to feed other livestock.  A manger is not a place you would choose to put your newborn child if any other choices were available.  Yet this is where Mary and Joseph find themselves.  This is the will of the Lord.

So why the manger?  Why not a nice room someplace?  We are given the information that there was “no room for them in the inn”.  This isn't like a “no vacancy” sign on a hotel window.  It meant that Mary and Joseph had no family or friends to go to in Joseph’s hometown.  It meant that even strangers who set themselves up to welcome guests would have nothing to do with them.  In the culture of the day refusing hospitality to a guest was a serious issue.  It didn't happen often.  Room was made.  In this case, the innkeeper extended only the bare minimum of hospitality to an expecting mother.  Mary and Joseph had been rejected at a time of high need in a place where welcome should have been found.  This was the will of the Lord.

In the birth of Jesus we see the state of the world.  It devalued the one who had come to save it.  It rejected those it could have helped.  It was ignorant of the amazing reality of God’s coming.  In many places and for many people the world is still this way.  But it doesn't have to be this way for us.  The King has come.  Because there is a manger, there is salvation. A new reality. A greater life.  This birth changed everything. It should change us. Will you allow it?