Christmas Thoughts
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
LUKE 2 : 8 – 20 (NASB).
As I sit in my chair by the window looking out on the bright winter morning which looks just like any other, I ponder over the special day it is – Christ-mas day. Outside it may look the same, but it is not! It is my Lord and Saviour’s birthday; the day appointed by God His Father to send a Redeemer into the world. HALLELUJAH!
I am constantly reminded of the song written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, “Mary Did You Know?” It challenges our imagination to try and grasp the reality of His birth and life from first hand knowledge. Think about it, Mary cuddled and kissed her Lord, soothing her babe, her God! She changed His nappies, watched Him grow and become a man.
What about Joseph His adoptive father? He gazed in wonder at the fulfilment of the Angel’s message to him in his dream, resting in a straw-filled trough. He loved Him and raised Him as his own, his Lord and Saviour. He spent many hours alone with Him teaching Him the carpenter’s trade; the types of wood, the tools and how to make joints.
As He selected trees to fashion into roofs, doors or wheels did it ever occur to Him that one day a tree would fashion a cross for Him? As he used Joseph’s hammer did He know that one day a hammer would drive nails through His hands and feet?
Dear reader, these are just my random thoughts on this Christmas morning that I share with you. It is my prayer for you that you are healthy, safe, and being blessed this special day as we remember the birth of our Messiah. It is through Him that God our Father enriches us with the best Gift ever!
Alan Kearns is a Christian father and grandfather from Scotland. He was raised in the mining villages of Fife and came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 1984. A major influence that leads Alan to Jesus was his Christian mum, grandparents and an aunt. Alan writes regular devotionals in his blog Devotional Treasures
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