obedience | Daily Encouragement

Three Things Wrong with the Christmas Story (Shepherds)

The scriptural accounts of Jesus’ birth are full of barbs, pricks, and leaps; yet, over time we’ve become so familiar with the story that we now fail to grasp (let alone appreciate) the blessed disruption that always seems to occur when God appears.

Now, on the eve of Christmas, allow me to briefly examine the third of three things wrong with the Christmas story, as we commonly hear it: The under-appreciation of the shepherds’ courage in deciding to visit the manger.

“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 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. (Luke 2:15-18, NIV)

Back in the days of the Nativity, shepherds were the last group of people anyone would choose to entrust with an important message. Their work was menial; their place in society was marginal; and their credibility was suspect. The folks in the village believed all of this about shepherds, and the shepherds knew that the village folk believed this about them.

If you’ve ever been pigeonholed by others — whether because of your gender, race, nationality, or any of the scores of other possible categories — perhaps you can appreciate the shepherds’ tenuous situation. Yes, they were among the first eye-witnesses of the Christ child, but who would believe their report?

According to the numerous “character studies” in the scriptures, God has done marvelous things through humble lives completely yielded to His will. Perhaps this is why it is said that God cares more about our availability than our capability.

It takes courage to move-out, as the shepherds did that night. It takes courage to disregard the opinions of others as you bear witness to what you’ve experienced first-hand. May the courageous example of the humble shepherds inspire you to always say “yes” to God, in spite of reasons to say “no.” – Luther

Tagged courage, obedience, shepherds, the book of Luke, Three things wrong with the Christmas story

December 23

Three things wrong with the Christmas Story (Elizabeth)

Now, two days prior to Christmas, allow me to briefly examine the second of three things wrong with the Christmas story, as we commonly hear it: The under-appreciation of Elizabeth’s choice to be hospitable.

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!’” (Luke 1:39-45, NIV)

Like Joseph, whom we briefly discussed yesterday, Elizabeth acted against the prevailing sentiments of her day in obedience to God. If, as the book of Proverbs says: “A brother is born for a time of adversity”; it is during adversity that loyalties are proven.

When Mary learned of her crucial role in the Incarnation, it turned her world upside-down. Understandably, Mary “got ready and hurried” to her relative Elizabeth, perhaps in hope that Elizabeth might provide her “context” for her situation, since she had recently experienced her own miracle — with all of its attendant uncertainties.

Often, when God leads us through a desert it is because we are being prepared to help those who will follow. In this regard, Elizabeth did not disappoint. Elizabeth’s first words to Mary were words of affirmation and hospitality. May God help each of us to gladly welcome and to affirm those who seek our counsel. – Luther