Luke 2:16-20
“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.”
The shepherds sought Christ and they found Him. He was lying in a manger, just as the angel had said. Don’t you love how God always stands by His promise. In this day of liars, and deceivers, it gets difficult to discern just what Truth is sometimes but God is Truth and His words have credibility. His plan of redemption for a lost world was lying in a manger that night. A tiny, helpless, wrinkled face baby, yet a King, a Messiah and a Redeemer of God’s people!! Mary didn’t know whether to give Him milk or give Him praise, but she gave Him both. Joseph didn’t know whether to call Him junior or Father, but they called Him Jesus. I’m sure His mom had a lot stories to tell and a lot of things to ponder in her heart to recall with cherished memories over the years to come. The joy of His birth would someday meet the justice and mercy of the cross and mingle with the heart wrenching sorrow of His death. Mary would have to be prepared to face the horrific tragedy of her Son..her Lord and know that somehow it would be o.k. Imagine hearing of His resurrection and victory over death? Any silent doubts in her heart would be quickly banished at such awesome news. Her son, God’s Son had defeated the last and final enemy..that of death, and Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, her son, had been the perfect sacrifice, and was now to be her Savior, because of His shed blood.
Wouldn’t you love to hear the story of the Birth of Christ directly from His mom? What a thrill it would be to hear first hand of the frightening, yet awesome events of God’s plan of Salvation, through this Son who was born to die.
Again I say, isn’t it great to know, in these days there is someone in whom we can trust and depend? In a world of cults, liars, cheats, deceivers and con artists, isn’t it a relief to know there is Someone you can trust. If God said it, you can count on it, unlike the rhetoric of politicians who promise anybody anything they want to hear to get elected. What God says, God does. God’s plan will not be thwarted by the enemy.
He broke through on that silent night to bring Hope and peace to a slumbering world and today He still brings peace into our hearts and minds as He breaks though our stubborn slumber and our selfish passions of offensive noise in our modern world! In the midst of the people, the cars, the sounds, the smog, the heat, and the pressures, there stand these reminders in God’s word of His deep peace as we celebrate His life. Seek Him and find Him today, just as the shepherds did. Let Him embrace you and forgive you and give you peace. That’s why He came! That’s what He does!
Hope and Healing In Hard Places 