Advent Devotion - Day 24

DECEMBER 24 – Luke 2: 16-20

By: Barbara Johnson

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,
which were just as they had been told."

In Luke 2:16-20, we see the shepherds seeking the Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The Lord’s first visitors are not wealthy businessmen, heads of state, or ambassadors. The first to pay homage to the Christ child are shepherds; men who tend sheep, who probably do not speak with perfect grammar and more than likely smell much like their herd. God chose these humble caregivers to receive an audience with the King of the Jews. These men, who could be considered “lower class citizens” by society, were given the highest praise by God-they were entrusted with a message that would change the world-“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” We, too, good shepherds, can spread this message of love and hope to the world.

Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, please help us spread the good news of your love for all people, through our words and our actions. Amen.

Family Moment
After the angels left the shepherds, the shepherds went to Jerusalem “with haste.” Imagine the sight of dirty dusty shepherds – usually out in the fields – rushing into the town! As they left they sang praises to God. After encountering Christ they were transformed. When have you encountered God? What transformation have you seen? The shepherds told everyone they saw about what they had seen – the Christ child! Make a Christmas card to tell someone about Jesus.