The Story of Christmas, Day 29: Saturday, December 24 – Luke 2:8-20 What It's All About

On the twenty-ninth day of Christmas, my Bible said to me...It's all about the glory of God!

Today's Reading: Luke 2:8-20

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,    

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Devotional Thoughts

Do you wonder at Christmastime, “What’s it all about?”  Why do I go through all of this?  Why do I brave the insane crowds at the mall, or Walmart?  Why do I have to have a schedule as busy as this, with parties and concerts and gatherings galore?  It takes our busy schedules and puts them on steroids.

But here is the truth, my friends. It is the truth that I so easily forget, that I let myself and my life get sidetracked from, that I let my soul disconnect from. And when I do, I become like a discharging battery. Eventually the warning lights start to come on and I need to recharge. What is that truth? It’s the reason for Christmas.

It is not about decorations and presents or trees.  It’s not about egg nog or fruitcake.  Its not about chocolate or tinsel or Rudolph or Santa.  Can I tell you something that might sound heretical? It’s not even about church. Christmas matters. What happened on Christmas matters – now and for all eternity, but we have to focus on the right thing. The one thing. The ONLY thing.

What is that?  Let me remind you. 

The night Jesus was born, an Angel appeared to shepherds on the hillside near Bethlehem, and told them a little more about who Jesus was. 

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  (Luke 2:10-11)

Jesus came to be Lord of all.  But to those who turn from their sins and acknowledge Jesus as Lord, he is also a Savior. 

You and I have a problem.  We are sinners.  No big deal, right?  We’re all sinners, no one is perfect, right?  Wrong!  Big Deal!  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but do not let the commonness of sin deceive you.  The Wages of sin is death.  Because you are a sinner and I am a sinner, we are separated from God by our sins.

And there is no hope in anyone but the baby that was born in Bethlehem, the Savior of the world.  He saves sinners from their sins. 

That angel spoke the glorious message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ to shepherds on the hillside.  Then, suddenly, a party broke out.  The angels of heaven could contain their glee no longer and they burst forth to shout, 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  (Luke 2:14)

Those who give glory to God find that they can experience the peace of God. Hell-deserving sinners such as you and me, people whose sin have separated them from God can experience the great grace and wonder of a relationship with God, of the presence and power of God in their lives. When Jesus rules your heart, and you trust him as your Savior, the glory and peace of God becomes a reality in your life!

It does not come through religion alone, through church attendance, baptism, or communion. It does not come through good works. It does not come through human power, goodness or personality. It comes through Jesus.  He is our all in all. 

He was sent from heaven to be born of a virgin.  Born in righteousness and purity he lived every moment of his life for the glory and honor of God.  He obeyed the Father in everything, earning righteousness, earning heaven, earning the favor of God.  At the end of his life, not owing God a death, he instead made a deal.  He said I will take the sins of the world on myself and suffer the eternal wrath of God for them.  He was nailed to the cross by cruel nails, but it was not the nails that held him to that cross, it was his determination to fulfill the plan of God and to redeem sinners from hell.  He died, and rose again as the victorious conqueror of death and hell.  Those who turn from their sins in repentance and trust in him will receive forgiveness and be made perfectly righteous in Christ. 

His name is Jesus. He is the Lord of all. He is the Savior of all who trust in Him. He is the glory of god and the Prince of Peace.

Do you know him today? Please don’t celebrate Christmas.  Celebrate Christ! Celebrate Jesus. Live Jesus. 

He is what life is all about. He is the ONE thing that really matters. 

Father, thank you for life and hope and joy, all of which come through your Son. 

Think and Pray

Is your life about Jesus, or is about about other things? 
One of my favorite songs is "In Christ Alone my hope is found." Is that more than a song, more than empty words? 
Do you give "glory to God in the highest?"  .

Carol of the Day

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heav’nly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see

Him Whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See Him in a manger laid,

Whom the choirs of angels praise;

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,

While our hearts in love we raise.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!