Day 21: The Faith of Mary and Joseph
Scripture to meditate on: Luke 2:8-20 The Shepherds’ Report
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.
Devotional:
Here are my Jesus thoughts for the day. I read the MSG Bible passage for the day about the sheepherders. “Let’s go over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” New revelation: That CANNOT have been easy–to go fast and suddenly with a bunch of sheep. Do sheep move quickly? Do old shepherds, who are used to long days & nights & bad temperatures & not used to running sprints? It says, “They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger.” My frazzled thoughts are like those sheep. And my body is like the shepherds’. But with everything I have, let me gather those thought-sheep and run toward Jesus. Like the shepherds, despite my messy sheep, please let being with Jesus fill me with joy and wonder and hope. If I have limited words, let me use them all in a way that lets everyone around me know that I got my sheep to Bethlehem and adored Him. The end of the passage says, “The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!” Amen.
Questions to ponder:
- What does this passage say about God?
- What does this passage say about me or my relationships?
- What should I do in light of this passage?
