Daily Devotionals
Monday, December 9, 2024 (Mary Ann)
Just wondering ….
I wonder if the shepherds sensed that something big was going to happen that night in Bethlehem.
Were the sheep unusually restless? Did the shepherds feel a need to keep extra-sharp eyes on the sky? Was that heavenly music they heard way off in the distance? We don’t know, but maybe they were familiar with Isaiah’s prophecy of a coming Messiah. Or not. After all, that was a 700-year-old prophecy! Their world was a mess, and if they knew the prophecy, had they given up waiting and longing for the promise kept?
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders, and he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
What we do know for sure is that all of a sudden those shepherds were smack dab in the middle of the first, and to this date never equaled, celestial sight and sound show!
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord — has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” …. Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others — the armies of heaven — praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2:9-11)
Just waiting ….
In the centuries since, the weeks of anticipation, preparation and waiting to celebrate the miracle of our Creator God condescending to become human and sacrifice himself to pay for our sins has become known as Advent.
Today’s sinful world is every bit as needy as it was in Jesus’ day. But as believers, our sin debt has been paid in full. And now we wait for the second Advent when Jesus comes again — not as a helpless baby this time, but as our conquering King.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
Sisters! Like the shepherds, can you sense that something big is about to happen? That shout of Jesus as Conqueror! Angels! Trumpets! It will be soon; can you feel it? Don’t give up waiting and longing for the promise of the second Advent. Maybe it will be in our lifetimes, maybe not. Regardless, we rejoice in this amazing plan of salvation, conceived before the foundation of the world, by our amazing, incomparable, loving Heavenly Father.
Mary Ann
I wonder if the shepherds sensed that something big was going to happen that night in Bethlehem.
Were the sheep unusually restless? Did the shepherds feel a need to keep extra-sharp eyes on the sky? Was that heavenly music they heard way off in the distance? We don’t know, but maybe they were familiar with Isaiah’s prophecy of a coming Messiah. Or not. After all, that was a 700-year-old prophecy! Their world was a mess, and if they knew the prophecy, had they given up waiting and longing for the promise kept?
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders, and he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
What we do know for sure is that all of a sudden those shepherds were smack dab in the middle of the first, and to this date never equaled, celestial sight and sound show!
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord — has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” …. Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others — the armies of heaven — praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2:9-11)
Just waiting ….
In the centuries since, the weeks of anticipation, preparation and waiting to celebrate the miracle of our Creator God condescending to become human and sacrifice himself to pay for our sins has become known as Advent.
Today’s sinful world is every bit as needy as it was in Jesus’ day. But as believers, our sin debt has been paid in full. And now we wait for the second Advent when Jesus comes again — not as a helpless baby this time, but as our conquering King.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
Sisters! Like the shepherds, can you sense that something big is about to happen? That shout of Jesus as Conqueror! Angels! Trumpets! It will be soon; can you feel it? Don’t give up waiting and longing for the promise of the second Advent. Maybe it will be in our lifetimes, maybe not. Regardless, we rejoice in this amazing plan of salvation, conceived before the foundation of the world, by our amazing, incomparable, loving Heavenly Father.
Mary Ann
