Hi how are you all today? Merry Christmas. My Christmas has been spent with family which was so good as I needed their support because I recently lost my mum. I said to my husband that I hope I get support not sympathy. Sympathy in the Oxford Dictionary means feelings of pity and sorrow whereas support means bear the weight of. I would much rather have people holding me up than invoking pity but that’s me. What do you prefer?
Today I want to focus on the next part of the Christmas story – the telling. Mary had just given birth to Jesus and was probably feeling exhausted but excited at the same time. She just wanted to get some rest and lied down to sleep.
Meanwhile, in the fields, the shepherds were also starting to lie down and rest as maybe they had a shift change so the sheep were always being watched. Suddenly a bright light shine around them and an angel was standing there.
“The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. This story is found in Luke 2: 8 to 14 in the Message Bible.
The shepherds must have wondered to themselves if they were dreaming . But as they looked at each other in amazement, they decided to go and see. Because of the description given by the angel, they knew where to look – in the manger where the Passover lambs were kept. When they arrived, they found Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus just like the angels said. After they finished visiting, they told everyone they met the story of what they had seen and heard. All who heard the story marvelled and wondered what was going on.
But Mary kept these things hidden in her heart and pondered over them. Why would shepherds visit them? Why was their baby born this way and placed in the manger kept for the Passover lambs? What was going to happen next?
This part of the Christmas story reminds us that no matter how God moves in our lives, we need to tell the story. Some will take action like the shepherds and come and see what Jesus is doing in our lives and in our churches. Some will be like the townspeople and marvel at what is said but do nothing and others will be like Mary and ponder those things in their heart until they sprout and take root.
If you can see yourself today in one of those three lots of people, then I want you to know that God loves you and is waiting for you to make the decision to come to Him, just like the shepherds.
He will never reject you no matter who you are or what you’ve done. He continually holds His arms open wide for you to just come.
Have a great week and keep living the life God intended for you.
Bless you
Karen
13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
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