READ: Luke 2: 8-20; Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
KEY THOUGHT:
The days building up to Christmas are filled with anticipation and wonder. But perhaps the most anticipated and most wonder-filled day of all is not a day but a night – Christmas Eve, the night before Christmas. While Christmas Day is unique and special because of the miracle it represents and celebrates, Christmas Eve has its own uniqueness as it celebrates a silent night of waiting and anticipating the arrival of a long-promised Messiah.
In today’s culture, Christmas Eve is traditionally a time spent with family and friends, exchanging greetings, salutations and gifts around food and fun. It’s an evening of quiet reflection as eyes of wonder look forward to what the next morning will bring.
On a similar night in a very different setting, there were others anticipating and wondering. In fields outside of Bethlehem, shepherds watched their sheep as the waited for a Savior. When the great birth announcement came, they hurried to see what they would find in a stable behind an inn. Filled with wonder and anticipation, they found their Savior in swaddling clothes just as promised. They rushed in from darkness to peer into the light of the world. They encountered God in the flesh, their much-anticipated Christ – Jesus, Emmanuel and gave Him glory, honor and praise.
As we wonder and anticipate what Christmas morning might bring, let’s remember the promise that God delivered through His Son Jesus on that morning long ago when light came into a darkened world as God became flesh and dwelt among us.
CONSIDER:
- What do you anticipate most about Christmas?
- How do your Christmas Eve traditions remind you of Christ?
- How can you ensure that worshiping Jesus is the most anticipated part of Christmas?
APPLICATION:
Anticipate ways of glorifying Christ at Christmas and throughout the year.
