December 26, 2016
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-12
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Questions for Reflection:
The message that the angel gave to the shepherds was profound and significant. What was the good news that they shared? Who was this good news for? In the message, the angel uses three titles for the baby. What were those three titles?
The first title given to the baby was Savior. What does the presence of a savior imply? If there is a savior, there must be something or someone that needs saving. Because of our rebellion and our decisions to not pursue God, we are hopeless. The good news is that we are not left to drift in our hopelessness; a Savior has been born. What did you need saving from?
The second title used by the angel was Messiah. The term is lost on us in our modern, American culture. To the Jewish shepherds, the title was filled with hope and promise. The people of Israel had been waiting for a messiah, one who would restore Israel to its rightful place. They were longing for one who would usher in a time of peace. They were looking for the one who would make everything right again. The messiah carried hope like the people of Narnia awaiting Aslan’s return:
“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”
The third title used by the angel was Lord. Jesus did not come just to bring hope and save us from our sin. He came to be the Lord of our lives. Nearly 250 times in the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as lord. What does it mean to make Jesus the Lord of your life? In what areas of your life, do you need to quit calling the shots and allow Him to direct your life?