Encouragement
Luke 2v6-20
Background
Joseph and Mary had gone to Bethlehem to register as there had been a census that had been called for. While they were there, Mary gave birth to Jesus. An angel brought the message to shepherds who were tending to their flock by night, who in turn went to see this that they had heard and later shed abroad news of the birth of a Messiah.
Three Events
1. The Birth of Jesus
• He was born in a manger because there was no room. When the world failed to accommodate Him, a stable was able to offer Him space to be born. In a time when the rest of the world is busy and preoccupied, we ought to find time to accommodate the One born to us. The world is rather to busy and if we are not careful we will fail to find time to give Him room in our hearts.
• The manger was an irrelevant place to man, but to the animals it was a feeding place. This irrelevant place gave birth to something of great relevance to the world today. It also gave birth to Him later known as the Bread of Life. He became a feeding zone for us all.
• The manger was a place out of the reach of the hustles of life. People had their usual bustling going on and understood not that something of great reach was about to hit them. We should never be too busy to ignore the things that are happening in the background. Behind the scenes great things are brewing. As someone who works behind the scenes I have recognized how easily forgotten we are, but the role we play to those in the spotlight is of great importance. The same is true of King Jesus.
2. The Shepherds out in the Fields
• They kept watch over their flock. That night something was taking place and these men were carefully watching to see what was going on. It is important to keep watch and be alert to see events about to happen. The Bible encourages us as children of the day to always keep watch.
• An angelic visit took place that night. That visitation brought the glory of God around them. In that place of watching, a visitation is nigh and with it comes the glory of God.
• The angelic visitation brought good news soon to affect the rest of the world. In that place of watching good news was poured out and today we live to celebrate it.
• The angelic visitation brought praise and worship because a Savior had been born. What God has done should cause praise and worship to flow from our hearts and mouths.
3. The Encounter in the Stable
• The shepherds moved with speed to see “this thing” which had been revealed to them. We need to act quickly on the Word of God because it has a season and life span within which it effectively operates.
• They testified abroad to that which was told concerning this Child. And people wondered about it. We need a testimony which should cause people everywhere to wonder about this Child.
• Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart. We need to meditate on the Christmas story and keep it in our hearts.
• The angelic praise and worship rubbed off onto the shepherds and they returned glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard as it was told unto them.
Strategic Lessons
• The things that can change our destinies are those that happen away from the everyday hustles of life.
• The things that affect our lives more powerfully are usually those we “don’t give room to.”
• The things that can change our view of life usually happen when we carefully watch and pray.
• The things that can strengthen our faith are those we go out towards even though we cannot see them and they become the evidence of what we set out for and a testimony that fulfils the Hebrews 11v1 definition of faith.
• The things that can leave a lasting impression are those we ponder about and testify unto.
This Christmas
• Make room for the King born to be the Savior.
• Take time to find out about that which has been told about this Savior.
• Take time to witness about this Savior
Thank God for the Savior of the world. William Young Fullerion wrote a hymn entitled “I cannot tell.” It goes
I cannot tell why He whom angels worship,
Should set His love upon the sons of men,
Or why as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,
To bring them back, they know not how or when,
But this I know, that He was born of Mary,
When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and labored,
And so the Savior, Savior of the world is come.
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