CHRIST THE SAVIOR IS BORN! SPREAD THE WORD!

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

Luke 2:15-20

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In yesterday’s devotion, we saw where the first news of Jesus’ birth was not given to kings or priests but to lowly shepherds watching over their flocks in the fields outside Bethlehem by night. It wasn’t high ranking authority or respected spiritual leaders but instead humble sheep tenders who were blessed with the honor of a visiting angel and accompanying company of the heavenly host who provided the Great Proclamation:

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” Luke 2:10-14

So what did the shepherds do in response to this message?

And in looking at our lives today, what should we do?

We’ll look at the first question now because in it we find the answer to the second.

Note that the shepherds wasted no time in going to find this newborn baby who the angel announced was the Messiah, the Lord. In fact , the scriptures tell us that they hurried off to Bethlehem, the town of David, where Joseph had brought Mary while still pregnant to register as ordered by Caesar Augustus. And when they arrived, they discovered a scene just as the angels had depicted. For there was Mary and Joseph surrounding their little baby Jesus who was lying in a manger. They had seen the miracle child which had been prophesied 700 years earlier! Jesus Christ, the Savior, was born!

It had to be an amazing moment for the shepherds but what happened next is perhaps as important as their haste and excitement to find Jesus in the first place. For the word of God tells us that the shepherds didn’t just return to their fields and continue to keep watch over their flock like all was now business as usual. No, they felt compelled to spread the word and tell others about this baby Jesus and what the angels had proclaimed about Him. They could not nor would not keep Jesus a secret. Instead, they shared their amazement with others, “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen’, things that happened just as the prophets said they would.

Friends, do we hold the same thrill and excitement of the humble shepherds today as we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ the Savior of us all? Are we anxious to tell others about how God’s salvation plan for all mankind began with the divine birth of His Son who had been conceived within the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit? Do we have an enthusiasm for sharing the good news of the Gospel with others with the intent of them building their own relationship with Jesus?

If we’re truly Christian, the answer to all these questions had better be a resounding “yes”! For Jesus Christ is born and the world will never be the same again.

Like the shepherds, it’s time for all of us to spread the word.

Amen.

Let us pray.

In Christ,

Mark

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