9 An angel of the Lord appeared to 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. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 

~Luke 2:9-10

 

The greatest birth announcement in the history of man, the Son of the Most High God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Great I Am, it was not before Kings and men of great position, but it was brought to everyday dudes, working me, guys doing the work that most would not do.   If anyone fit John 3:16 "Whosoever", these guys did.   That is the good news, that it is for "Everyone", the least likely, the most unexpected, it is for all who "Receive" it.

 

Something about these shepherds, many were uneducated and unskilled, they were not only considered social outcasts but were also considered spiritually unclean. Shepherds had to constantly care for the sheep and were not able to adhere to all the extra ceremonial laws and cleanliness stipulations that Pharisees were imposing on the people. 

 

But let's not completely overlook that these shepherds were more than likely tending sacrificial lambs for the Jerusalem Temples.  Is that not something to cause pause, cause you to stop for a moment to ponder, those tending sacrificial lambs would meet the lamb of God given for the sins of the world.   Let that sink in!

 

This is a reminder that:

• It is not your position.
• It is not your education.
• It is not based on how good you are.
• It is not based on your past.
• It is not based on your family tree, the stock you come from.

 

You are a "Whosoever!"

 

 

These shepherds would share the good news everywhere they went; they had experienced the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the Lamb of God.

 

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,~Luke 1:17

The application here is to share the good news of Christ the Savior, so that everyone you encounter would know the good news.

 

 

I pray that we would be bolder this year, reach more with your good news, that we, like these lowly shepherds, would not keep quiet, that we would shout it from the rooftops, that no one would miss it, because Joy and Peace have come to us, and it is a gift to be shared.  

 

Luke 1:38

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

 

 

I think when we read of the virgin birth, we are caught up in the overall picture, but we lose sight of the fact that Mary is a teenage girl who is to be married to Joseph when the angel arrives on the scene to tell her, "Mary, you are to be with child through the Holy Spirit."   Imagine the things that would race through your mind:  "How will I manage this news, my husband, my reputation, most importantly, my life?"   I don't think we fully understand the strength of this young lady, it is no wonder she was chosen.   A heart so surrendered to the Lord, she says, "May your word to me be fulfilled."    This is: "Strength in Surrender!" 

 

The power comes when we surrender to God, that is when the impossible becomes possible through this Strength in Humility, this Sweet Surrender to the Lord. 

 

 

The takeaway, the application here is to surrender to God, to listen for His movement, to be obedient to His leading.    As we listen for His voice, we must prepare our hearts to be read to move, to accept it, to step into it, to be obedient to it.   James said don't just merely listen to the word, do what it says.   We must respond to the word of God.

 

 

Lord, I pray that all of us could step into the stream of obedience, that we would experience this Strength in Surrender, that you would do the impossible in and through us, that we might see the miraculous, that we might be sent to do the impossible, in Jesus' name, Amen!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

 

I was reminded of this wondrous truth: Imagine that Christmas, all of heaven watched, thousands upon thousands of angels watched Jesus leave his throne.  The word became flesh, God becoming man, the supernatural crashed into the natural, eternity collided with time.  

 

The baby 100% God, yet 100% man.  Let that simmer in your heart.

 

• Love was born that day.
• Hope was born that day.
• Truth was born that day.

The all-powerful became powerless in that moment, and the infinite became finite, He entered into the human experience.  Why?  So that He could be near us, this is the greatest gift ever given to mankind, that God would come to have a personal relationship with His creation, to step down and put humanity on and know us in a personal way, that we would know Him and that ultimately He would give Himself for us.    

 

Of all the gifts you and I will ever get, they will in no way compare to the gift of Christ.

 

 

The application here is to have a personal relationship with a personal God, who came down so that you could know Him personally.   To remember the sacrifice He made for you, that He held nothing back.

 

• Seek Him.
• Draw Near to Him.
• Be Transformed by Him.
• Be at Peace Because of Him.
• Discover Joy in Him.

 

It is my prayer that we would take a moment to reflect on Christ today, that it would impact our hearts, that we would in turn draw nearer today to Him, that our reflection would be on the relationship that He came to have, to reconcile us, to restore what was lost in Eden, that we would seek Him with all our hearts, in Jesus' name, Amen!

 

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. ~Isaiah 9:2

 

 

Light has so many good properties. At night, it dispels darkness, provides security on a dark paths, and it reveals what's ahead. When you're in the light, you can see the dusty cabinets and counters; it exposes every spec, the areas that need attention; that is what light does.   It provides warmth.

 

So when Jesus says that He is the light of the world in John 8:12, we understand that His presence in our lives dispels the darkness, provides security for our future, it exposes the things that do not belong, it brings clarity to our shortfalls and gives us a path to change them, it dispels the darkness around us and even those who live in it.

 

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ~John 8:12

• A Great Light (Christ) has dawned in our lives.
• No longer should we wander in the darkness lost because we have been found.

 

 

Light and Darkness do not exists in the same place, because light dispels darkness, so those who live in the light they have no part in the darkness, that is what Jesus is saying, He is the light of the world whoever follows Him will no longer walk in darkness, it is our proximity to the light of the world Jesus that rids our lives of the things that do not belong, provides a path to where we should be, clarity to see what we should.   We need Jesus, just like we need light.

 

 

Lord, I pray that we would draw closer to you in this season, that you would shine your light into the deepest areas of our lives that we would see our need for you in all the areas of our lives, that you would provide direction, protection, that you would dispel darkness that would seek to consume us, and that you would light our paths, direct our feet in Jesus' name, Amen!

 

 

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

 

Got to love James, he is pragmatic, what he tells you is practical and for everyday life.   This whole portion was obvious to people who believed, but their belief was not producing movement or change in their life; it was not producing action.

 

See, "Faith is a Verb"; it is meant to produce action in our lives. 

 

James spends this whole chapter talking about how "Faith" should produce activity in our lives, we should "ACT" on what we believe.   What good is it for me to tell you something I believe if I am not trying to act on what I believe?   Now I am not saying that some people are not preaching one thing and doing another; there are plenty, but none of us think that is right.  So James' word is pragmatic, "do what the word says, do what you believe." 

 

 

Like Nike, "Just do it!"      Let your Faith take you places the former person who did not believe would have never gone.   Do things that only God could have led you to do, see things only God could have shown you, become the person only God could have led you to be. Faith will take you places, but first you have to take a step.

 

This is a challenge, if you are just doing the minimum, your faith and action is disbalanced, then do something about it, "BE BOLD!"   If you are only doing the minimum, "DO MORE!"   

 

Our belief should be having us, stepping out, SERVING, putting our HANDS to work, because of what we "BELIEVE!"   Let that challenge you today.

 

 

Lord today if we are just doing the minimum, if our faith is weak because we have let it produce no activity in our lives, then change us, challenge us to do more, to seek you more, to step out of the boat (Thanks Peter) to take the first step, to walk on water, to leap, to take impossible steps and discover they are possible, help us "LIVE" out our "FAITH," in Jesus' name!