Luke 2:1-21
- December 25, 2007
- By Brian
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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So this morning i rolled almost out of bed, grabbed my Bible to read The Birth Stories. And to no coincidence it was this passage that i got lost in. It is still amazing to me that God brought His Son to be birthed in such a place. God Himself born in dirt and hay… and probably a lingering smell of cow dung.
It is also so amazing to know that He chose us individually to be His children, to know Him intimately. This is obviously not new news to us but i still revel in the fact. I see people around me that have hard hearts, knowing that i came from the same place they came from, grew up the same way; yet God picked me out to call me His! He came for all men, yet selected who will know Him and how much we will know. Swallowing those hard words stings but i’m am so joyful to know Shoreline does so to obey Him, love and be loved by Him, in faith that He will be glorified in us and that we may spend this life and eternity serving Him.