Day 25
Start with Posture of Silence and Solitude (2 minutes)
Read Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.
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:
Away in a manger no crib for His bed the little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head. The “good news that will cause great joy for all the people” already began badly for Christ. (Spoiler Alert) It would only get worse for Him though, ending in death on a cross. The price of the deliverance we would enjoy. Yet this was not only the will of God but also the free will of Christ to be the offering for our sins. The depth, the breadth of this love. That our savior would take on flesh so He can suffer and die in our stead.
Questions to Ponder:
What does it mean to you that Christ took your place? How should that affect your life on earth?
Prayer:
I cannot ever thank you enough Lord for what you did for me in sending Jesus the Messiah to sacrifice for me. Thank you almighty God for sending your Son for me, thank you Jesus Christ for taking on flesh and giving up your life all for my sake. Grant my Lord that just like the shepherds I also will tell far and wide all that I have heard and seen because they are just as you promised. Amen.
End with Posture of Silence and Solitude (2 minutes)