I Never Noticed…
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12
Insight
I love reading through the Christmas story and seeing what pokes out at me that I didn't notice the year before. There's something sacred and unique about this time of year. The other 10 to 11 months where we aren't necessarily reading through the incarnation does not mean we aren't preparing for it. Experiences, trials, joys, and celebrations fill those months and shift our perspective and widen our eyes so that when Christmas does come around, we see it a little differently than we did the year before.
As I was reading through Luke 2:8-12, there were plenty of things that stuck out to me that I hadn't paid much attention to years prior. First, when the glory of the Lord shone around them, they were "terrified." I laughed aloud when I read this line because it is one of the most relatable pieces of scripture I've read.
When we notice things start shifting around us, when we begin to see the Lord's hand moving and working through things that we prayed and were desperate for, one of the first things that we appear to be is terrified. You might not, but I especially am. Not because the Lord is working, but mainly because I am afraid of messing up what He's doing or afraid that I'm standing in the way or not where I'm supposed to be.
When the Lord moves, it is never how I think He's going to - like the Messiah arriving as a baby (But we'll get to this later). We pray for the Lord to move, then when He does, it freaks us out. The Lord responds to our hesitation, fear, and anxious thoughts with, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy."
For the world at the time, it was the gift of Jesus. For us today, it is that same gift, but it is also the gift of redemption, rest, peace, hope, and love. When we see His glory moving around us today, we can't dismiss it as just a coincidence or a simple moment but as a gift. When we ignore it, we eliminate it from causing great joy.
When the Lord moves, He doesn't do it how I expect or visualize it in my head. I can expertly craft a perfect plan for Him to move and work, but He always chooses His ways. He works everything out for our good. So, we are to trust His plans, even when it looks like a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger. We may not know precisely what His good news that causes great joy looks like for us today, but we know that God is willing to lead us to it as long as we are eager to let Him lead us.
Reflection
How do you respond when you notice the Lord working in your life?
In what ways can you confidently step back from your plans and trust God's today?
Prayer
Lord, we thank you for today, and we thank you for the past year that led up to us reading Your Word today. Thank you for fresh eyes and a different perspective that came through a tough year. Thank you for holding Your plans above ours, even when we might not understand why. Thank you for being a God that meets us and sits with us - One that brings good news that causes great joy, even today. Let us see You move today on this Christmas Eve. Let us see Your glory even if it terrifies us for a minute. And when it does disturb us, remind us of Your truth, that You are a kind, loving father that has come to us as a baby wrapped in cloth in a manger so that Your children might know joy. Amen.
Port City writer Sam Slezak wrote today's devotional.