Introduction
Hello church and welcome to our Advent journey! May this time you’ve set aside to spend in God’s Word bring unexpected joy to your heart!
Let’s begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and prepare room in our hearts to be refreshed with God’s word.
Let’s begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and prepare room in our hearts to be refreshed with God’s word.
Opening Prayer
Glorious and Gracious God, thank you for giving opportunity for us to pause and focus on You. Please open our hearts to receive Your word and the Joy You have for us today. May Your Holy Spirit help us sense Your nearness oh Lord.
Today's Scripture - Luke 2:8-20 with 1 Peter 1:3-12
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.
…..
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
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.
…..
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
God's word to us, a lamp for our feet, a light on our path. Thanks be to God.
Reflection
It might seem strange to read these two passages together for what do Shepherds of Jesus day have to do with us? They are recorded as having born witness to Jesus when He was born, we know nothing of what became of them after Jesus was raised and the fullness of His first coming was completed. When Jesus Christ is revealed to the Shepherds – the result is praise, glory, and honor, and being filled with Joy! Even tho what was revealed to them was a mere beginning and portion of God’s plan to save us.
When Jesus Christ is revealed to us – according to Peter, the goal too is that it will result in praise, glory, and honor and being filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy!
Why? Because we receive the end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls!
The prophets foretold about Jesus’ coming, but their understanding was incomplete. The Angels reveal to the shepherds that the Messiah, the long awaited Jesus, has now been born. Even still, the angels’ understanding is incomplete and the shepherd’s understanding is incomplete. Even our understanding is incomplete, for though we do love Him, and believe Him, we do not see Him like they did. And yet, we too are invited to respond to what we have been shown. And just as with the shepherds and angels, we can greatly rejoice with joy. We can ascribe full praise, honor, and glory to the babe born in a manger who will grow up, suffer, die, and be raised to life.
When Jesus Christ is revealed to us – according to Peter, the goal too is that it will result in praise, glory, and honor and being filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy!
Why? Because we receive the end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls!
The prophets foretold about Jesus’ coming, but their understanding was incomplete. The Angels reveal to the shepherds that the Messiah, the long awaited Jesus, has now been born. Even still, the angels’ understanding is incomplete and the shepherd’s understanding is incomplete. Even our understanding is incomplete, for though we do love Him, and believe Him, we do not see Him like they did. And yet, we too are invited to respond to what we have been shown. And just as with the shepherds and angels, we can greatly rejoice with joy. We can ascribe full praise, honor, and glory to the babe born in a manger who will grow up, suffer, die, and be raised to life.
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 make Yourself known!
In my limitations, help my heart to remember the blessing of salvation.
In my limitations, help my heart to remember the blessing of salvation.
Take a few moments now to pray to our God of perfect timing.
Thank you for joining us today. On Wednesday we will reflect together on how to be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy! Until then, may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
