25 Days of AdventSample

Advent -- Day 22

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:8-20

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 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.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 12:16

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Meditation

Shepherds spent their days alone, living outside, in the field, among the animals. Their job was base; it was not, in Jesus’ time, and is not now a prestigious position, not by any stretch of the imagination. Shepherds were not special people. Believers or not, they would not have been allowed in the temple, because living with the flocks left them unclean.

But there was one thing very special about these outcasts. They were watchful, especially at night. It was their job to be this way. It is interesting that they were the first ones told about the birth of Jesus. Maybe they were the only ones awake when God decided to drop his big surprise on mankind, his great big, unbelievable, angelic announcement. Or maybe God chose these outcasts to show us just that he loves outcasts, and that nothing, not our uncleanliness, not our lack of education, not our place in society, or our fitness for entering a church building, not one thing can separate us from his love. Those who guarded the temple kept them out. God invited them in, circumventing protocol, because he is not bound to the extra rules we tend to put on people.

And so they became witnesses and worshippers, proving again that God is not confined to the religious boxes we try to put him in and will not consign us to them either. This greatest among history’s worship services happened out in the fields, in front of a flock of fuzzy, stinky animals, among a group of humble, faithful worshippers who spread the news of a better shepherd who would come to save all mankind.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I praise and bless your name for the limitless magnitude of your love in sending your Son to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And I am unspeakably grateful that you sent your angels to announce the birth of our Savior to the lowly shepherds that Christmas Eve. I thank you that there are no preconditions and qualifications that we are required to achieve before coming to Christ. Instead, we can come to you as we are in all our uncleanness and corruption, and humbly receive the gift of life that we could never merit. I am grateful that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. May I always be thankful for your glorious gift and recall the terrible price you paid to make it possible to bestow. In your Son’s name, I humbly pray. Amen.