Astonishment, Treasure, and Praise
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READ FULL TEXT FROM GOD’S HOLY WORD:
Luke 2:8-20
KEY Verses 16-20…
So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph. The baby was lying in the feeding box. The shepherds saw the baby. Then they told what the angels said about this child. Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. Mary continued to think about these things. She was trying to understand them. The shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything that they had seen and heard. It was just as the angel had told them.
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THOUGHTS FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:
If we will allow it to touch us, the birth of Jesus can produce the same reactions in us as it did in those three groups touched by it. The villagers were astonished at the story -- and so are we, because God would love us this much.
Mary stored up the words and events in her heart like treasure -- and so do we, when we read the story of Jesus with love, joy, and anticipation. The shepherds returned to their work, but they do so with joy and praise knowing that their world would never be the same.
God has come and visited us. He has shown us his love. He has ensured us that life doesn't have to have its normal boundaries. So we greet this story and this Child with astonishment, taking in each story and every word as a treasure, while offering our heartfelt praise to God for his gracious love.
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PRAYER:
O Almighty God, so majestic and yet so accessible, thank you for drawing near us when we could not draw near you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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