Introduction
Hello church and welcome to week 3 of our Advent journey!
We sincerely pray these advent readings have helped you to focus your heart and settle your mind in the Joy that is Christ’s coming! If you are just now joining us, the Christmas Carol Joy to the World is our chosen theme for this year’s advent season and our format for this devotional includes our week’s scripture, a short summary, a stanza from our carol, time for prayer, and then wrapping up with a few closing thoughts. Three devotions have been created for listening on Friday so you can prepare for Sunday’s worship and message. And again on Monday and Wednesday as touch points to take the passage deeper. We are so glad you are here!
Let’s begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and prepare our hearts so we can be refreshed with God’s word.
We sincerely pray these advent readings have helped you to focus your heart and settle your mind in the Joy that is Christ’s coming! If you are just now joining us, the Christmas Carol Joy to the World is our chosen theme for this year’s advent season and our format for this devotional includes our week’s scripture, a short summary, a stanza from our carol, time for prayer, and then wrapping up with a few closing thoughts. Three devotions have been created for listening on Friday so you can prepare for Sunday’s worship and message. And again on Monday and Wednesday as touch points to take the passage deeper. We are so glad you are here!
Let’s begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and prepare our hearts so we can be refreshed with God’s word.
Opening Prayer
Almighty God, thank you for drawing us to You. Please overcome our distractions so we can receive Your word and the Joy You have for us today. May your Holy Spirit Refresh us anew with the Joy of Your presence oh Lord.
Today's Scripture - Luke 2:8-20
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But 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,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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.
“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,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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.
God's word to us, a lamp for our feet, a light on our path. Thanks be to God.
Reflection
It need not be said how messed up our world is – we all know and feel it personally in some capacity. Broken families, broken relationships, broken systems, and broken people. They seem to influence our days more than we would like. The shepherds were not unfamiliar with brokenness. Their days also included hardship, difficulty, rejection and pain. On top of all that, they were of no reputation, had low standing in their community without much hope of change as the power of corrupt Rome was strong and the corrupt religious systems unable to provide any help or any hope.
This story in Luke can become so familiar that we lose sight of how magnificent it is. Angels talking to ordinary shepherds! Promises and prophecies coming true! The blessing of salvation ushered into motion through the birth of a baby!
Just as shepherds, while minding their own business, suddenly experiencing the presence of Angels is an unlikely and incomprehensible occurrence, The fact that we can be brought from death to life, that we can be redeemed, that we are able to turn from darkness and enter into Light and Life eternal with Jesus – that’s extraordinary! The joy we can be filled with, the love we can feel even though we don’t see Jesus with our eyes or touch him with our hands, that’s beyond the realm of nature! All of this is available to us regardless of the corruption and brokenness that remains this side of Heaven.
The curse of sin and death is reversed, no longer must mankind toil and travail on their own. We have a Savior who comes to us. We have hope of His return and His setting all things right. As remarkable as it may seem to be visited by an angel, never mind an entire squadron of them, we have something even more – God with us, God living in us, God rescuing us, God overseeing His plans and promises for us.
This story in Luke can become so familiar that we lose sight of how magnificent it is. Angels talking to ordinary shepherds! Promises and prophecies coming true! The blessing of salvation ushered into motion through the birth of a baby!
Just as shepherds, while minding their own business, suddenly experiencing the presence of Angels is an unlikely and incomprehensible occurrence, The fact that we can be brought from death to life, that we can be redeemed, that we are able to turn from darkness and enter into Light and Life eternal with Jesus – that’s extraordinary! The joy we can be filled with, the love we can feel even though we don’t see Jesus with our eyes or touch him with our hands, that’s beyond the realm of nature! All of this is available to us regardless of the corruption and brokenness that remains this side of Heaven.
The curse of sin and death is reversed, no longer must mankind toil and travail on their own. We have a Savior who comes to us. We have hope of His return and His setting all things right. As remarkable as it may seem to be visited by an angel, never mind an entire squadron of them, we have something even more – God with us, God living in us, God rescuing us, God overseeing His plans and promises for us.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
Closing Prayer
As you go about your day, carry this short prayer with you:
Lord Jesus, You are the hope of all the earth!
In my discouragement, help my heart to remember You overcame the grave.
In my discouragement, help my heart to remember You overcame the grave.
Take a few moments now to pray to the Author of good news and great joy!
Thank you for joining us for our Advent reading of the shepherds’ and angels’ praise. For your further growth, and to prepare your heart for Sunday’s message, take time with the preparation questions found in this week’s Sermon Notes.
We will be back again on Monday to ponder what happens when Jesus Christ is revealed. Until then, may the Lord keep you, shine His face upon you, and give you His peace.
We will be back again on Monday to ponder what happens when Jesus Christ is revealed. Until then, may the Lord keep you, shine His face upon you, and give you His peace.
