What is your Response to the Birth of Jesus?
By Lillian Penner
We have been decorating our homes inside and outside, shopping for gifts, baking cookies, and attending Christmas programs. Now let’s look at how the shepherds and wise men responded to the birth of Jesus Christ. Now let’s not forget to think about our response to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s look at the response of the shepherds.
After the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, they immediately ran to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in a manger. Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel said about the baby. The people who heard their story were astonished. The shepherds returned to their fields and flocks, glorifying, and praising God. However, Mary quietly treasured all these things in her heart and thought about them often. [₁]
Let’s look at the response of the wise men from the East
Later some wise men from the East were guided by a spectacular star who came to their house, fell before baby Jesus, and worshipped him, bringing expensive gifts with them. [₂] Look for a star of guidance in your own life and be willing to follow wherever it leads you in 2021. [2]
Now, what is your response to the birth of Jesus Christ?
Christmas day is past, the tree will soon come down, and the decorations will be put away for another year. Now, are you glorifying and praising God for sending his Son into the world to save our sins as you are packing away your Christmas decorations?
- Are you worshipping the Lord and quietly meditating on His Word?
- Pray that your children and grandchildren’s response to the birth of Christ will be one of glorifying and praising God for the new life he provided.
- Pray they will stand as a symbol of hope in a dark world adorned with God’s strength and beauty.
- Don’t pack Jesus away with the Christmas decorations until next Christmas.
My prayer is that your response is to grow in your spiritual life so you will be able to be an even more significant godly influence in the lives of your grandchildren in 2023. We live in crucial pandemic times; our grandchildren need their grandparents to pray for them intentionally.
Ref.
[₁] Taken from Luke 2:15-20 TLB
[₂] Matthew 2:11
Mary Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God
Joseph Matthew 1:24 He woke up and did as the angel commanded him.
Innkeeper no room
Shepherds Went to see Jesus and praised and glorified God.
Herod Very Disturbed
Wiseman Bowed down and worshipped the baby Jesus and gave him gifts
Mary and Joseph probably needed the gifts for their stay in Egypt.
Again, Joseph obeyed the angel and fled to Egypt
What is our response?
Lillian Penner is the author of Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for Your Grandchildren in English and Spanish. She has been on staff with the Christian Grandparenting Network prayer ministry for fourteen years, developing prayer cards, grandparents@Prayer groups, and the Grandparenting Day of Prayer. She has a passion for praying intentionally for her grandchildren and desires to share that passion with other grandparents.
An avid blogger, Lillian breaks into smiles if you ask about her thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She and her husband, John, live in Portland, Oregon, where they are active in church ministries. They were both raised in Christian homes and desire to pass their godly heritage to their future generations. She and her husband enjoy traveling, Southern Gospel music but most of all, enjoy spending time with their family.
Feature Photo by Wallper Access
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