Saturday, December 20, 2008

SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH EVERYONE

“And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
After seeing him,
the shepherds told everyone
what had happened
and what the angel had said
to them about this child.”
Luke 2:16-17 NLT
~~~~~~~

After the angel and the heavenly host were gone, the shepherds knew they had to check this out. So they hurried to Bethlehem (I believe it was that same night). They found the stable where Mary and Joseph were staying, and just as the angel had said, there was the baby, lying in a manger.

This was not just another baby, this was the one whom the angel of God had announced to them. This was “The Savior, Christ The Lord”— whom the prophets had foretold would be born of a virgin. The one of whom Isaiah had said “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 9:6 NLT What awe must have filled the shepherds’ hearts as these prophecies may have flashed through their memories! I am sure they stayed around for a while to soak in the wonder of it all.

By the time they left the manger, and started back to their flock, it must have been daylight, because they ran into people. They told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

As I thought about this, I began to realize we have a much fuller story to tell about Jesus, than the shepherds had. The Gospels tell us how Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. How He taught the disciples and the crowds all that the Father taught Him. How He lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead. How he ascended to heaven with the promise that He would come back again to rule and reign. He sent The Holy Spirit to indwell us and make all these truths become real to us.

You see we do have a much fuller story to tell than the shepherds did. We have even greater reasons to be glorifying and praising God than they, and tell everyone that the Babe of the manger is now the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And the day is coming when every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue confess that He is Lord!

Let’s Pray-
Thank you Father, for the Good News of Christmas. BY your grace we have come to personally know the Babe as our Lord and savior. Help us to share the Good News with everyone we meet along life’s way.
Amen

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Iver,

I was wondering who the artist is for the picture of Jesus lying in the manger.

Bill Meier

Iver said...

Several weeks ago I Googled "Shepherds at the manger" and chose that picture from among many other images.

Now going back in an atempt to come up with an answer to your inquiry, I can NOT find it any more!??!! I do come up with the picture with the Sierra Leone 2005 Christmas postage stamp outlinig Mary and Jesus in the manger.

I have not been successful in finding the name of the artist of the picture.

If anyone can come up with the name of the artist - please help us out.

Thanks

Anonymous said...

Hi Iver,
What a beautiful summary of the Gospel! Yes we have a great story to tell. Pray that I am bold in sharing it with others.
Mark Bowman

Anonymous said...

Dear Iver and Donna,
Thank you being so faithful with your short readings given to us each week. I really enjoy them and they always seem to arrive at just the right time. Bless you for doing God's work. Merry Christmas.
Joyce Lambert
PS Please keep them coming!

Anonymous said...

Iver,

Angela found it. The artwork you choose is the following:

Adoration of the Shepherds
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617 - 1682)
Museo del Prado, Madrid

Bill Meier