June 8

Luke 2:8-21 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 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 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!” [1]

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.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Footnotes
[1] 2:14 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men

Observation

How appropriate that halfway through the year between Christmas 2009 and Christmas 2010, we are reminded of the Christmas story. And as many times as I have read or heard these passages, it never tires because it is the hopeful and simple message of our Savior’s birth. The one from Luke is my favorite only because since I was a junior high school student, I've watched Linus on the Charlie Brown Christmas yearly special go on stage in this cartoon and speak these passages answering the question, what is Christmas about? Yet with all my familiarity of these lines, the Scriptures do not fail to let me learn something new today.

In verse 13, angels are Praising God. Then in verse 20, the shepherds are Praising God.

Application

To be mindful of, and practice, the genuine praising of God.

Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven,

You are worthy to be praised. Help me to have a heart that wants to praise you in a genuine manner. I thank you for allowing your Son to be born in human form and yet be God, sinless and pure. That He would become the sacrificial Lamb, forgiving me of my sins. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen.

--Michael Hong