Grow. Pray. Study. Daily Guide from the United Methodist Church
of the Resurrection – Wednesday, 25 December 2013 – "Your savior is born
today" (Christmas Day)
Daily Scripture: Luke 2:
The
Shepherds and the Angels
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood
before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am
bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this
day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord. 12 This
will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and
lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host,[b] praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace
among those whom he favors!”[c]
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing
that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went
with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17
When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But
Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it
had been told them.
Footnotes:
a. Luke 2:11 Or the Christ
b. Luke 2:13 Gk army
c. Luke 2:14 Other ancient authorities read peace, goodwill
among people
Reflection Questions:
As his followers sang praises on Palm Sunday, Jesus said,
"I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would shout" (Luke
19:40). The song the angels sang to the shepherds when Jesus was born had that
same explosive, irrepressible quality. The "Code of Elves" said,
"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to
hear." The heavenly assembly praised God to the lowly shepherds, whose
hearts were open to hear their sublime message.
"Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all
people. Your savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord. This
is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a
manger." Imagine yourself hearing these familiar words for the first time,
as the shepherds did. Heard that way, is this message joyous news for you? What
are your reasons for your answer?
Jerusalem was only a few miles from Bethlehem. Was God biased
against the people of power and influence at that time? Why didn't the
"herald angels" sing in the Temple courts, or at the high priest's
luxurious house in Jerusalem? How can you keep your heart and your home open to
God's presence this Christmas?
Today's Prayer:
Lord, from our world's perspective it seems odd that you'd
choose shepherds—poor people of low social status —to first hear of the new
king. The shepherds listened, ran to see Jesus, and worshipped. Keep calling me
to live in your kingdom, too, I pray. Amen.
Wednesday, 25 December 2013 - Insight from Rev. Steven Blair
Rev. Steven Blair is the Congregational Care pastor of Live
Forward and Live Well Emotional Wellness Ministry. www.cor.org/liveforward
Today’s blog is a simple one. Read the Christmas Story. Read
slowly and listen alertly. See what part jumps out to you.
Read Luke 2:1-20 two or three times today. If it helps, try this
version from The Message:
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken
throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of
Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted
for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in
Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go
there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She
gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him
in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had
set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and
God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. 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.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked
it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves
what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they
met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders
were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep
within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and
praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the
way they’d been told!
Merry Christmas!!!
Steven Blair
Pastor of Live Forward and Live Well
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United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, KS 66224 United States
(913)897-0120
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