Tuesday, March 14, 2023
As a church, we are reading through the book of Luke in the weeks leading up to Easter. If you haven't signed up yet, text Luke to 419-419-0707. The LivingItOut devotions will be elaborating on one aspect of the Luke reading for that day.
Luke 2 contains the traditional Christmas story—you know, the one that Linus reads every year in the Peanuts Christmas pageant. Try to imagine what it might have been like for those shepherds, perhaps the most unlikely audience for the royal announcement!
Luke 2:8-15
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
“Don’t be afraid!” the angel told the shepherds. I would have been terrified! I’m not sure I would have heard anything the angel said. But he brought good news that will bring great joy—a Savior! The Messiah, for whom they had waited so long. The shepherds hurried to town and found the baby just as the angel said. They returned to their flocks, rejoicing!
Each year when I read the story of Jesus’ birth, I have to ask myself what difference his birth, life, death, and resurrection has made in my life. I believe it is a question worth considering. To say it means everything to me, because it does, is insufficient. I decided to drill down to the shepherds' responses: fear, wonder, obedience, and worship.
I fear God’s holiness and the fact that, on my own, I can never attain it. I wonder in Jesus’ choice to leave heaven, to make himself nothing—a servant, a sacrifice—for my sin. I am challenged by my lack of obedience to do the things God has called me to do when they don’t align with my ideas or my comfort. I know that with the assistance of the Holy Spirit who lives within me, I have the power to fulfill my God-given purpose. I worship and rejoice that Jesus loved me enough to come and rescue me from my sin.
Questions:
Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
What difference has Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection made in your life?
Next Steps:
Spend time reflecting on Luke 2:18-15 and how Jesus' birth initiated the Good News that brings great joy.
Attend GrowthTrack to discern your God-given purpose.
Spend time worshiping Jesus with one of these songs—“Grace is on Our Side,” “See a Victory,” “Raise a Hallelujah”—or choose your favorite and worship the One who loved you enough to rescue you from your sin.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open the eyes of our hearts, that we might come to know and trust in the work you did for us here on Earth. I pray that the knowledge you send will confirm once and for all time that you did what you said you would do—be the sacrifice for my sin that I might have a renewed relationship with God. Thank you for making yourself known to us through so many different ways. You are worthy of all glory, honor, and praise! Amen.