12/26 Luke 2:21
Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
TRUE
They listened and named the child as instructed. As we journey daily on our spiritual walk we need to do more listening and less talking. The Lord knows what we need and too often we don’t. Follow Jesus. Listen to what He says. Obey!
12/25 Luke 2:18-20
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
JOY
Overwhelmed with joy the shepherds returned to their sheep. They had witnessed the birth of the Messiah and were simply elated about God including them in His birth story. They were nobody and nothing and yet they Lord graced them with great favor making them eyewitnesses of the birth of the Christ child. Jesus is born in Bethlehem.
12/24 Luke 2:17
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
WITNESSED
The shepherds witnessed the Christ child and told about their experience to everyone. They were early witnesses to Jesus. Do not be afraid. Listen to the Lord. Meet Jesus if you haven’t.
12/23 Luke 2:16
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
RECOGNIZE
The shepherds recognize Jesus and celebrate His arrival. They believed the angels, came to see Jesus and worshipped Him. Do you recognize Jesus? Let Him into your life. Jesus is Lord.
12/22 Luke 2:15
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.”
ACTED
The shepherds acted upon the directions of the angels. They knew this word was from God and therefore they went to Bethlehem to see the Messiah.
12/21 Luke 2:12
And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly, 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.”
LISTENED
The Shepherds listened to the angels. They heard them praising the Lord. They were overwhelmed with joy and fear. The key was that they listened to them.
12/20 Luke 2:10-11
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!
AGES
The prophecy of the ages was coming true. The eyewitnesses: shepherds! The Lord uses broken people. Are you broken? This Christmas is specially for your. Are you on your last leg? Nothing has worked out? Overwhelmed? At the end of your rope? Jesus came for you. He knows how you felt. He lived it. He knows what you need! Salvation. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. You will be forgiven of your sins. You will become an eternal member of the family of God. Jesus came for you.
12/19 Luke 2:8-9
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,
AFRAID
Before you say you wouldn’t be afraid put yourself in the Shepherds’ shoes-this was an astonishing event that certainly in their mind end in their destruction. But it wasn’t. This was a visitation from the Lord. Have you ever had a visitation? Didn’t it shock you?
12/18 Luke 2:6-7
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
REAL
This is a real event. God sent His son who would live like the most of us, the poor of us, and still live a life without sin. Remember the poor. We are called to help the Lord take care of them. Praise the Lord.
12/17 Luke 2:4-5
And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
TAXES
Who would have thought taxes would be part of the Jesus birth narrative, but it is. The Lord can use anything to accomplish His purposes including you and me. Bless the Holy Name of the Lord. Praise His for all His wonderful greatness.
