Follow the Star: Discover the Heart of JesusSample

One of my favorite mother’s day gifts is a pillow that my son gave me that says, “Home is where Mom is!” It’s not where you are but who you are with that makes a home. That’s what Mary demonstrated for us in Luke 2:7. She made a home out of a stable for her newborn son when she swaddled him in cloths and laid him in a manger. Then a few verses later, we see the Shepherds hear a direct message from the Lord about this special baby that they needed to see and worship. 

This is one of my all-time favorite passages for Christmas that I began memorizing as a kid, thanks to a cartoon. Charles Schultz, an American cartoonist, helped bring light to this passage of scripture in his cartoon Charlie Brown’s Christmas. During the story, the characters participate in a Christmas play, and the character Linus reads the timeless word of God that tells the story of the Shepherds getting a message from the Lord. Two things that stand out to me about God are that God does not care about status or position in life when He has a valuable message. The shepherds had a very mundane job and were not like the high priests or kings and queens. But, they were chosen by God to receive the message. The other thing is that God sent a direct message (a DM) to ensure they knew it was Him. The best part about it was that it was a message that would cause them and people worldwide great joy.

Do you ever wonder what would have happened if God had sent a note on a scroll or a regular passerby to the shepherds to let them know about Jesus? Would they have paid attention and gone looking for Jesus? We will never know, but we do know that God sending a direct message in the form of the host of angels got their attention, and they were afraid. 

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” The angels told the shepherds not to be afraid because they had good news that would bring joy to them and millions of people worldwide. I can’t say that I blame them. Think about it, if a host of angels, the likes of which had never before been seen, suddenly appeared in the sky, at night, while you are doing your job as a shepherd, being afraid seems like the proper reaction, right? My children laugh at how easily startled I am, I jump when I see a frog, so I am pretty sure I would have been afraid. But it’s also true that sometimes God will use the unusual and extraordinary to get our attention, not to make us scared.

God still DMs us today. Recently I have been struggling in a work situation. As I was walking my dog, God brought to my remembrance a few words that when I got back home and looked it up in my Bible were from Philippians 3:2. He was sending a direct message to me that would cause me great joy, and it did. Taking on the humble character of Jesus and counting the challenge all joy is what brought me joy. The situation didn’t change, but encountering Jesus and taking on His perspective changed me. 

Jesus wants to get our attention, he doesn’t want us to be afraid, and when we do pay attention, it will cause us great joy. This season is the perfect time to pay attention to the DMs from God. After all, it will bring you great joy.


Reflection Question: 

Are you afraid of a direct message that God may be using to get your attention? Have you missed a DM due to fear?

The good news of Jesus will cause great joy for all people. What part of the good news do you need to receive joy?


Prayer: God, we stand in awe of your majesty in all creation. As we read your word, you display your greatness and power in ways that confirm that you are the Lord! Thank you for sending your son Jesus to bring us great joy and eternal life. Thank you for demonstrating through this passage that whoever we are and wherever we are in life, you still choose us and want to communicate directly with us. Help us not to be afraid and to grasp hold to the good news that you are sharing that will cause us great joy, not based on circumstances, but based on who Jesus is and the choice we can make to receive His peace and joy. We are eternally grateful!  Amen