ADVENT DEVOTION - DECEMBER 23 - By Pastor Dave A few years ago a survey was done to see which characters from the advent account most people identify with. How many of you think its Mary? Joseph? The wise guys? Or Herod? Not surprisingly, the shepherds came out on top by far. Throughout the history of Israel, shepherding was a noble profession. Abel was the first to have this job, followed by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and of course, David. God calls Himself The Good Shepherd and we’re compared to sheep, which is anything but a compliment. By the time we come to the first century however, shepherding had lost its luster. Shepherds made up the lowest class of people, coming in just ahead of the lepers. In the Talmud, which is a collection of interpretations and insight from the rabbis, we read these words: “No help is to be given to heathen or shepherds.” Apparently, God didnt subscribe to that particular insight. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11) It doesn’t say, “Now there were in the same region scribes keeping watch over their scrolls.” The Lord comes to the lowly, to the most undeserving, to the neglected and marginalized in order to show His power. The shepherds help us see that God has a message for sinners just like us. Everyone matters to God. And the only announcement of Christ’s birth goes out to a bunch of uneducated outcasts. As the song says: What a strange way to the save the world! Have you accepted the message and allowed the Christmas Presence of God to be born in you? God’s good news is a gift that must be received if you want it to be activated in your life. I love what Corrie Ten Boom once said: “If Jesus were born one thousand times in Bethlehem and not in me, then I would still be lost.” It’s time today to make sure that Jesus is born in you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christmas Cookies for Cops - Baking & Assembling today from 1-3 PM at Highland. Well deliver to firefighters, EMTs, Emergency room personnel also tomorrow evening. Somehow Cookies for First Responders didnt have quite the same ring to it. But consider using the trending hashtag: #ISupportFirstResponders Merry Christmas! Share this post and Share this Good News!
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 13:13:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015