Weekly Devotion no 39
24 December 2020
Bible reading – Luke 2:1-7[1]
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the
town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because
he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went
there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was
expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came
for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her
firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because
there was no guest room available for them.
Reflection
Over 2000 years ago, God himself came to this earth and lived as a human, as one of us. God the Son humbled himself to be born as a baby, a child dependent on His mother for sustenance. He was born into a simple and unassuming place, not calling on the benefits of life He was entitled to, but instead understanding what it is to have little in life. He was loved and protected by His parents – parents who had obeyed what the angels had told them and who trusted God, even though they didn’t understand.
But how should we respond to this? Here’s how the shepherds responded:
Bible reading – Luke 2:8-20
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
13 Suddenly a great company of the
heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 ‘Glory to God in the highest
heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’
15 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.’
Reflection
No matter what we’re doing on Christmas Day or who we’re
spending it with, let’s stop and wonder at this mystery of Jesus being born
into this world. And may our response be to say ‘glory to God’!
Hymn
Verse 1
O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to
Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels:
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord
Verse 2
True God of true God,
Light of Light eternal,
Lo, He abhors not
the virgin's womb
Son of the Father,
begotten not created:
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord
Verse 3
Sing choirs of angels,
sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens
of Heav'n above
Glory to God in the
highest:
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord
Verse 4
Yea, Lord we greet Thee,
born this happy morning
Jesu, to Thee be
glory giv'n.
Word of the
Father,
now in flesh
appearing
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord
Prayer
At Christmas time we
delight again to hear the story of the journey to Bethlehem, the song of the
angels, the surprise of the shepherds, and their joy as they found Jesus in the
manger.
But lest we forget he was born to poverty, we remember at this season all who
are hungry or cold.
And lest we forget he became a refugee, we remember now the stranger and the
lonely among us.
And lest we forget he felt the pain of life and death, we remember now those
who are ill, or anxious, or bereaved.
And because we know he came for our salvation, let us in heart and mind go once
again to Bethlehem, to hear the message of the angels and worship afresh the
Son of God. Amen.
Comments