Tuesday December 19, 2023

Today is Tuesday, December 19 and we are studying about the love of God born in Jesus.

As I begin this time of prayer, I quiet my mind, slow my breathing and focus on God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As the Christmas celebration approaches, I prepare my heart to receive God’s great love realized in the birth of Jesus.

Pause and Pray

God, you loved the world so much you gave us your only Son. In this time of prayer and reflection, remind me of the greatest gift ever given – the birth of Jesus the Messiah for the salvation of the world. Amen.

I rejoice in God’s great love and praise him with the words of Psalm 85.

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. Psalm 85:10-13

Pause and Pray

The shepherds were living outdoors in the fields nearby the town of Bethlehem. They were keeping an eye on flocks of sheep during the night, protecting them from wild animals, and preventing them from wandering away. After the announcement of the birth of the Messiah a multitude of angels showed up to praise God and communicated a message of peace and good will. The shepherds left the sheep alone on the hillsides and hurried into town to find the newborn and see this miracle for themselves.

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. Luke 2:16-20

As soon as the angels departed, the shepherds went to seek the child they were told about. The shepherds did not hesitate to go into town and find the baby Jesus. The scriptures say they “hurried off” of “went with haste” to seek the newborn child. In this last week of preparation for the celebration of Christmas there is a tendency to hurry in haste to accomplish many activities for the busy days of Christmas. In contrast, these simple, lowly shepherds hurried in haste to find the Christ child. The true meaning of Christmas.

Ask: What am I hurrying in haste to accomplish this holiday season? Am I seeking the true meaning of Christmas?

Pause and Pray

Lord God, as the shepherds hurried off to seek Mary and Joseph and the baby, I want to seek the true meaning of Christmas. Let me find Christ this Christmas. I will not hesitate to go where I need to go and do what I need to do to discover Jesus. I join the shepherds in spreading the good news, glorifying and praising you for your Son and Savior, Christ the Lord. I read the words from Luke again and listen for the message you have for me.

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. Luke 2:16-20

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

The shepherds hurried off. They went together to the town of David to seek the Son of David. As a young boy David worked as a shepherd and kept his father Jesse’s sheep in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:11, 17:15). David was born to be the greatest King and Shepherd of Israel. The Old Testament prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Micah all promised a Shepherd King who would feed his flock and lay down his life for his sheep. The ancient prophecies are fulfilled in the birth of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. He is the King of my heart and Shepherd of my soul.

Pause and Pray

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me. Lead me beside the still waters, invite me to lie down in green pastures, and restore my soul. Call me by name, lead and guide me. I listen for your voice and will follow you wherever you go. I pause to hear your kindness and love speaking into my life. Amen.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28

I leave this time of prayer listening for the voice of the Shepherd. I go to follow him in paths of goodness and righteousness.

Amen