Christian Reflection and Prayer

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory
of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with
fear (Luke 2:9).

 

One Christmas memory always makes me shudder. I'm
sitting in a classroom dressed in costume and drenched
in sweat. It's not that the costume is too heavy or the
room too hot, I'm sweating because the children's
Christmas program starts in five minutes, and I'm so
nervous I can't remember a single word of my part!

 

Sheer terror! It's amazing how many times Luke mentions
that terror as he describes the first Christmas. First, there
was Zechariah in the temple, then Mary; now it's the
shepherds' turn. They are sitting quietly watching their
sheep on a dark night, when bright light suddenly
surrounds them. An angel stands before them shining in
glorious splendor. But that's not the source of the brightest
light. God's own glory is shining all around them. Their
reaction isn't unusual for a sinner in the presence of a holy
spirit creature, let alone the brightness of God's own glory.
Luke wrote in the original Greek, "they feared with great fear."

 

Actually, that was the same light the Son of God had been
radiating in heaven, before this world was created. But He
concealed that glory when He became human and came to
our dark world to save us from death and hell by His life,
death and resurrection. Because of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice
we will be able to stand before Him without fear, when He
returns to judge the world. Then throughout eternity we will
 bask in the glorious light of God's presence forever.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your gracious presence
among us. Cleanse us from our sins through Jesus our
Savior, that we may live in Your glorious presence forever
when He comes again. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the
field keeping watch over their flock by night (Luke 2:8).

 

Writing Christmas cards is not always the most fun thing
to do, especially when you have stacks and stacks of
them. But it sure is fun to open the mailbox and find it
stuffed with Christmas cards, announcing Jesus' great
birth. We cover our front door with the cards mailed to us.

 

A Christmas greeting and announcement was one of the
most memorable things about the first Christmas too.

 

Now that His Son is born, it is time for God to send out
announcements to let the world know. What better
messengers than angels? Interestingly, God didn't
choose rich, prominent, important people to be the first
to hear the glad tidings of the Christmas angel. Instead,
He chose poor, lowly shepherds and sent His angel to
give them the very first Christmas announcement.

 

Shepherds didn't have the best reputation at the time,
especially in their local synagogues or churches. But
theirs was still an important and ancient profession.
Adam and Eve's second son Abel was a shepherd,
before he was murdered by his jealous brother Cain.
Jesus' own human ancestors Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob had all been shepherds, as had been another
famous ancestor, King David.

 

In time Jesus would show the greatest honor to
shepherds, taking that title as His own and calling
Himself the "Good Shepherd." Like these shepherds,
Jesus was willing to lay down His life to protect His
sheep. Unlike them, He could lay it down on the cross
and take it up again on the third day. This He did so
He would always stand guard over His flock, and gather
us together as His own.

 

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, thank You for laying
down Your life and taking it up again for us. Guard and
keep us in this faith until the day of Your returning.
Amen.

 

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him
in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because
there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:7).
Read Luke 2:6-7.

 

On Christmas Eve my thoughts goes back to a "live"
nativity when I was a teenager. I was dressed as a wise
man, and it was freezing cold. Each of us stood shivering
and shaking, waiting for our shift to end, so we could
thaw out our aching toes and wrap our frozen fingers
around a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

We don't know what time of year Jesus was born. But
whatever time of year it was, Joseph and Mary had to lay
their Child where no one would ever want to put a
newborn -- out in the elements, with only a crude shelter
for His protection.

 

Do you have a manger scene in your front yard? If so,
spend a few minutes there tonight. Jesus willingly left His
glorious throne in heaven to share the chill of nighttime
and the grinding heat of the summer sun. He experienced
our hunger and thirst, sleepless nights, and long difficult
days.

 

But more than any of us, He experienced a crown of thorns,
a brutal whip across His back, and nails driven into His
hands and feet. He took our sins on Himself and felt the full
weight of God's wrath, so one day we will live forever in
God's presence where, "They shall hunger no more, neither
thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any
scorching heat" (Revelation 7:16).

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, You left the comforts of heaven to share the
difficulties of our life. Through Your suffering and death in
our place, You opened heaven to us. Fill our hearts with
joy this Christmas and every day until we stand with You
in paradise. Amen

 

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)