OzThoughts Friday 12th December 2008

OzThoughts Friday 12th December 2008

“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,
Worship the Lord in the spirit of praise.
Bow down before Him,
Love and adore Him,
Come let us worship in spirit and truth.”
Author: James Curnow

13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told! (Luke 2 The Message).

The Shepherds (‘Sheepherders’ as The Message calls them), Mary, Joseph and the baby make a beautiful, innocent and simple picture.

Let’s think of Mary and Joseph with their precious first born child. How did you feel as you held your first born child? Did you feel confident while help was all around you in a hospital or from a mid-wife? How did your confidence change as you headed home with the responsibility for this little help less child? Now think of Mary and Joseph with those feelings and add to those feelings that this child is the “God-baby”, the Saviour of the World.

Now let us think about the Shepherds. How confident were they to walk right up to the stable with the story of Angels announcing the birth of a baby to them? Was there really a baby there? Why would the parents want them to see their baby? What would they say? What would they do?

This is truly a beautiful, innocent and simple picture that is painted by Luke. We can imagine all we like about the scene but Luke tells what actually happened. Notice however Luke tells more about what happened after the meeting than the meeting itself.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, when we return tour daily chores from our time with you today help us to share about you with those that we meet. Amen.


[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_427.mp3 ]

Angels, from the realms of Glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth:
Ye, who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth.

Chorus
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ the new-born King.

Shepherds in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing;
Yonder sines the infant light.

Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In his temple shall appear.

Sinners moved by true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you, break your chains.
Authors: James Montgomery (1771-1854)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 75

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