God Chosen Shepherds

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

I know what I am about to ask is a stretch, but let’s try it anyway. If you were God, and could use any means to announce the arrival of the world’s Savior on a specific night, what would you do? Would you choose shepherds whiling away on their nighttime watch? I didn’t think so. 

Shepherds. Rough characters at that time. They labored at the tedious job others were not willing to do. Not only that, they slept with their flocks and probably produced a flock-like scent—OK, they were smelly! 

But there is a link; a thread that connected the town of Bethlehem and shepherds who lived about two thousand years apart. David, the Shepherd-King. He cared for the people of Israel just as he cared for his father’s sheep when he was a lad in Bethlehem. He even wrote a Psalm about a heavenly Shepherd, because he knew what a good shepherd was like.

Jesus, the Son of David, came and announced Himself as the good shepherd [John 10:11]. When talking about it He said that He knows His sheep and they know Him. But most importantly, He said that a good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. 

So consider this: on the night when Jesus' life began, an eternal plan was set in motion. That plan would lead to a day when the good Shepherd would lay down His life to save people from their sins. So maybe an angelic vision to shepherds wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Since they understood feeding, guiding, and saving, it seems to me the best way for chapter one to begin. 

I don’t do this often in my eDevotions, but today would be a good time for a prayer. Join me in a prayer of praise, a declaration of the God we serve:

1    The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want. 

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters. 

3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake. 

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over. 

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD

Forever.  AMEN!

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8

God's Chosen Virgin

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Can you think of anyone in the history of the world who was asked to have more faith than Mary? She was young, probably a teenager, and a virgin. More than likely, her hope was to live a normal life in a small, Galilean village — the no-name town of Nazareth. But things were about to change in a big way!

A message came from heaven, sent by God, Himself — not in a text, but through an angel. They were, undoubtedly, troubling and confusing words. So much so, she had to be reminded at the very beginning, “The Lord is with you.“ Now we all know that generally speaking, God is with all of us. True. So I’m thinking the emphasis was, “The Lord is with YOU!” The God who chooses made another choice. He had done so before with Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Ruth, David and others. But once again He chose an instrument through which He would work in the world. “Highly favored” may be the understatement of its time. 

“You will be with child,” he said, “in a way no woman has ever conceived before, as a virgin.” Would she believe it? Well, let me ask you, would YOU believe it? Don’t think for a minute that people of that day didn’t understand human anatomy and conception. They were not ignorant of the birds and bees. 

Is it too much to ask of the 21st century to believe that God could do something so utterly unique? Most, today, would say “Yes.” I would say, “No” because I don’t think God is limited to only one creative time. Who can make such a rule for God! 

She was asked to believe the unimaginable, and she did. Mary believed, and so it came to be that she was “with Child.” What a remarkable young lady! That being said, she is not to be worshiped, but neither should she be ignored. She stood at the end of an era, the Old Testament, and the beginning of a new. And we see her life, from stable to cross, pointing to Jesus. 

It really makes me wonder: If Mary were here today, how would she celebrate Christmas? It’s a good question for all of us. How will YOU celebrate Christmas? I have an idea. Let’s exercise our faith and, like Mary, say, “Lord, do whatever you choose to do in my life.” AMEN!

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. Luke 1:26-31

Peace: More than Non-Violence

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Peace. I think it is safe to say that everyone wants it. It is a noble aspiration. In a time of war, or when a conflict seems to have settled down; when you’re battling your own demons, or feeling rather good about your relationships; when you’re on God’s side, and when you aren’t so sure —there is no time when it is not a good time to pursue peace. 

Unfortunately, many settle for a false peace. All they are looking for is the cessation from hostility. When you go to bed at night, you may be thankful that you weren’t beaten and robbed that day, but that is not the same thing as experiencing peace, especially if fear of the next day is still there. If a husband and wife get weary of yelling at each other and agree to a mutual, icy indifference, no peace there either. 

Peace is more than non-violence. In Hebrew, the word for peace is shalom. It has a depth of meaning, but at its core, it’s a well-wishing that says, may you be whole and complete. On one of my trips to the Holy Land, I was talking with our guide about the word shalom. He said that ancient Rabbis used the word to encourage a person to find out where they fit in the universe and be tranquil in it. Let me say it this way, when you know your place in God’s world - that you are more than a beast, but less than God - that sense of order brings peace. 

So I wish you peace this Christmas. Yes, it includes the hope of fewer people killed by terrorists, bullets, hunger, and AIDS. But I wish you much more than that. This Christmas, may you know real shalom, confidence that when God’s favor, His grace, rests on you, you have a peace that is beyond comprehension, an orderliness that comes only from Christ. By the way, that orderliness began on the first Christmas. Christ came to make things right. It began with His birth, and was completed in His sacrificial death and triumphal resurrection.

When you know Christ, you know peace!

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:13-14

Christmas Joy

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

I’d settle for a bit of joy these days. But “great joy”? Is that too much to hope for?

Where did all the Christmas joy go anyway? Why are things so complicated? Why so rushed, squeezed and cluttered? Does it have to be this way? Is there any Christmas joy left to be enjoyed? 

For the shepherds on that first Christmas, it started out as any other ordinary night. Same, same. Another uneventful night caring for their flocks. For thousands of years, shepherds had done the same thing. Even King David, when he was just a boy, stood watch over sheep, perhaps even in those very fields of Bethlehem. Life hadn’t changed much for the shepherds. 

But this was no ordinary night! Angels, beaming with the glorious light of God Himself, showed themselves to the shepherds. One announced, “I bring you good news of great joy!” Now, if it were me, I’m thinking fear, not great joy. Joy would have to come later!

Please understand, I’m not talking about enjoyment here. Enjoyment is biting into a Christmas cookie, or opening a shiny Christmas package. But on that day, great joy came in the startling realization that God came to make His home on earth. He had come to reclaim this sin-sick world. 

That, dear Christ follower, is joy. Furthermore, it is “great” joy because it “will be to all people.” All people—then and now. That includes you and me! 

May your days be filled with “great joy.” 

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

Peace

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Did the angels get it wrong on that night so long ago? In beautiful harmony they proclaimed to the shepherds, “Peace on earth, good will toward men” [Luke 2:14]. Those divine messengers heralded peace and goodwill because, in Bethlehem, a Savior would be born.

Seriously, Peace? Good will? With global terrorism ongoing, and the great number of impoverished people in the world, or perhaps your own upheaval and unrest, do you wonder if the angels got it wrong?

Is it any wonder that people mock the message of peace rather than marvel at it? Of course, the angels weren’t proclaiming peace between nations. Their message was the good news about peace with God—the payment He would make to deliver mankind from their sins.

He is our peace because He paid the ultimate price to abolish sin. He died and rose again, and because of that, all the angst and unrest in our lives—the guilt of sin—has come to an end. 

So now, as a Christ follower, He declares, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” [John 14:27]. The Prince of Peace has come, and He is in charge of your life. Neither the turmoil in the world, nor the problems you face can diminish for one second the freedom from the guilt of sin that is yours in Christ. 

Talk about peace and good will! And not just at Christmastime. Always. Because “unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given—the Prince of Peace.”

For unto us a Child is born, 

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Mighty God

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Some of the prophecies about Christ in the Old Testament are statements so bold, so large, that generations have been spellbound. They have been held as treasures, and still are yet to be fully comprehended. Isaiah’s oracle about the Son who would be born is one of those. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…and in that moment of great inspiration, Isaiah revealed Him as Mighty God!

In the Jewish mind, nothing was more important than the belief in one God. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” [The Shema: Deuteronomy 6:4]. Not two gods, not two thousand gods, but one God and only one who is to be worshiped above all. Now, fast forward to the coming Mighty God, Jesus. The Magi worshiped Him. The fishermen worshiped Him. Mary and Thomas worshiped Him.

When Jesus, the Mighty God, came, there is not a hint at anything suggesting there is more than one God. It’s just that God, being who He is, chose to be with us — another of those bold statements: “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a Son, and name Him Immanuel—God with us” [Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23].

The Christmas story is about the true entry of God into human affairs. The same God who created humanity, took humanity on Himself when it suited his purposes—to save that same humanity.

Not any kind of god would do that. Only the one, the true, the "Mighty God.” A God who would do that is truly worthy of worship. 

For unto us a Child is born, 

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Savior

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

When it comes to the names or titles of Jesus — Lord and Messiah are good examples of names well known to Christ followers — I can think of none as dear as Savior. In Matthew’s narrative of Christ’s birth, a lot of emphasis is placed on that name. He recounted what an angel said to Joseph, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” [Matthew 1:21]. From the very moment of His birth, we are witness to the nature of His work. 

The name Savior is dear to us because we need saving, especially from sin. God hates sin with a holy wrath. The book of Romans makes it very clear that we store up for ourselves wrath from God for our sins. Paul said, “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed” [Romans 2:5].

That is why we desperately need a Savior. And for those who have put their full confidence in what Jesus did for them on Calvary’s cross, they need not fear that day of wrath. Jesus is our Savior. Paul encouraged the Thessalonian Christ followers to wait for God’s Son “whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” [1 Thessalonians 1:10].

Far too many people think that God is not concerned with sin. So let’s be clear; God’s wrath will be poured out upon unrepentant sinners one day. But Jesus bore His wrath against sin on the cross. He took your place, and you are saved from God’s wrath when you trust Him alone. Paul said it well, “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” [Romans 5:1].

What a Savior!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11