"BACK TO THE SHEEP"
Dec. 28, 2018
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
~ Luke 2:20 (ESV)
What did the shepherds do after they saw the baby Jesus and His parents? Luke tells us that "they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this Child" (Luke 2:17). That is, they talked to people—Mary and Joseph, the neighbors, people in the street, who knows? But then they went home. There were sheep waiting.
Sometimes God kindly gives us those wonderful moments too, doesn't He? Perhaps it's at the Baptism of a baby in your family, or maybe it's a special moment at communion. Maybe it's just a second when you're washing dishes or changing the oil in the car and then suddenly your heart thinks of Jesus and His love. Those moments are precious. We're right to be grateful for them.
But the sheep are still waiting. And so we pick ourselves up, pull our thoughts back to the work that lies in front of us, and dig in. That's the way it goes.
Except for one thing. Luke says that "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen" (verse 20). We can do that, too. We can go about our ordinary lives, not forgetting the great things that God has done, but praising God for them. We can do it silently, in our hearts, or we can do it when we talk to other people—to friends, family, or coworkers.
We may be back in our ordinary lives, but the great things God has done for us—Jesus' life, death, and resurrection—are still with us. Jesus' love and work for us undergird everything we do. How great it is that we can praise Him for those things, even when we're minding the sheep!
THE PRAYER: Lord, help me to love and glorify You during all the ordinary moments of my life. Amen.
The Coming King REFLECTION QUESTIONS!
- What do you think the shepherds felt like when they got home to their sheep?
- If you are willing, describe one extraordinary moment or experience you have had with God.
- How do you stay mindful of God's presence and love in your ordinary life?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What do you think the shepherds felt like when they got home to their sheep?
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