AWE AND OBEDIENCE
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.” Luke 2:15-16
Theme: Shepherds celebrated by immediately acting on the revelation they were given, then telling others.
A SPECIAL SECRET
These last few Christmases, I have had the joy of shopping with my grandchildren for their parents’ gifts. Sometimes, even though they may have already gotten a gift for their siblings or cousins (with their parents’ help), they see something just PERFECT and must buy an additional gift. I have found that the more perfect the gift is, the more marvelous the secret! There is an undeniable pull to share the excitement, and an equal resolve to keep quiet and let it be a surprise.
LET US GO
The shepherds did not have this same tension. Rather, they experienced fear and then amazement. They saw the angels and heard the Good News: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10b-11, ESV). And they marveled. Do you think they repeated to each other what they had heard? Questioned the details of the sign they were to look for, a baby lying in a manger? I think they stopped and worshipped God. They had had a visitation from heaven, a message that was just for them, but also for all the people of the world!
Then, they did as they were directed—Let’s go!—and went immediately to see the new Babe who had been announced to them. They found Mary and Joseph and the child, just as the angels had promised they would. And the shepherds repeated to Mary and Joseph everything that had been told to them by the angels. Luke tells us Mary stored up all these confirmations and glorious sayings in her heart, maybe to tell Jesus as He grew. As the shepherds went on their way, they also told others, and all who heard the great news wondered.
Make It Personal: When I discover a message for me from God’s Word, do I react in this same order? Do I pause and worship? Do I wonder at the fact that Almighty God has spoken to me, maybe in His Word or through His messenger? After I worship, do I obey? Because true worship always leads to obedience. For the shepherds, it was to go and see. Maybe it’s the same for me: Go. If that’s true, do I go? Do I tell others? Do I share with believers to encourage their faith, just as the shepherds reconfirmed to Mary all that she had been hearing from God? Do I tell those who are not yet believers what God is doing in my life, thereby giving Him glory and sharing the Good News? It is an honor to hear from God; share it. Pass it on.
Pray: Father, speak to me, through Your Word, through Your people, through the worship and the message. I love to hear Your voice. Oh, help me to hear Your voice! And Lord, when I hear, I will worship in gratitude. Then I will store up that moment for a time when my faith is weak, and I doubt Your love for me. Help me also share it, encouraging the brothers and sisters of the family of God that You are real and active and at work our lives. Help me take Your Good News farther, to those I do not know and who do not know You, so that they may hear of Your love, Your Salvation, the Hope of the world, Jesus. He is Good News of great joy for all people. Thank you for sending Him to die for me. In His Name I pray. Amen.
Read: Luke 2:8-20, 4:18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
Weekly Memory Verse: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, ESV