December 24, 2024 7:00 pm
It felt like we’d been waiting forever for news that our pregnant neighbor had welcomed her first baby. When a sign declaring “It’s a Girl!” finally appeared on their front lawn, we celebrated the birth of their daughter and texted friends who might not have seen the outdoor display.
There’s great excitement awaiting the arrival of a baby. Before Jesus’ birth, the Jewish people hadn’t just been waiting a few months, they’d longed for the birth of the messiah, Israel’s expected rescuer, for generations. I imagine that over the years faithful Jews wondered if during their lifetime they would see the fulfillment of this promise.
One night the long-anticipated news was displayed in the heavens when an angel appeared to shepherds in Bethlehem announcing that the messiah had finally been born. He told them, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). After the shepherds saw Jesus, they praised God and “spread the word” (v. 17) about the baby.
God wanted the shepherds to know that the long-awaited baby had arrived so they could tell others about Jesus’ birth. We still celebrate Jesus’ birth because His life provides rescue from the brokenness of the world to anyone who believes. We no longer have to wait to know peace and experience joy, which is good news worth announcing!
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Welcome to this Christmas edition of the Our Daily Bread devotional. Our reading titled Welcome Baby Jesus was written by Lisa M. Samra. It felt like we'd been waiting forever for news that our pregnant neighbor had welcomed her first baby.
When assigned a clearing, it's a girl! Finally appeared on their front lawn, we celebrated the birth of their daughter and texted friends who might not have seen the outdoor display. There's great excitement awaiting the arrival of a baby. Before Jesus' birth, the Jewish people hadn't just been waiting a few months. They'd longed for the birth of the Messiah, Israel's expected rescuer, for generations.
I imagine that over the years, faithful Jews wondered if during their lifetime they would see the fulfillment of this promise. One night, the long-anticipated news was displayed in the heavens when an angel appeared to shepherds in Bethlehem announcing that the Messiah had finally been born. In Luke chapter 2, he told them, this will be a sign to you, you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. After the shepherds saw Jesus, they praised God and spread the word about the baby. God wanted the shepherds to know that the long-awaited baby had arrived so they could tell others about Jesus' birth. We still celebrate his birth because his life provides rescue from the brokenness of the world to anyone who believes. We no longer have to wait to know peace and experience joy, which is good news worth announcing. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Luke chapter 2 verses 8 through 20. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you.
He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you, you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who is 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. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the joyous announcement of Jesus' birth and the privilege of continuing to share this good news today. Fill our hearts with the peace and joy that come from knowing Christ and empower us to spread the word of your saving grace to those around us who are still waiting to experience your love. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. My name is Brenna Holsclough, and on behalf of the entire Our Daily Bread Ministries family, I want to wish you and yours a very merry and blessed Christmas. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2024-12-24 20:06:09 / 2024-12-24 20:07:54 / 2