Thursday, December 27, 2007
Luke 2:13-14 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
A LOOK INTO THE MANGER
The shepherds saw with their eyes. The shepherds heard with their ears. Their hearts beat hard and fast, and when the angels disappeared, then the shepherds ran with their feet to Bethlehem. They heard the message from God through the angels, and they believed it. They went to see what God had done.
Today we see with our minds as we hear God's word with our ears. Our hearts beat hard and fast as we too look into the manger, as we see the God-Man, the Christ Child, our Savior. We have heard God's message. Salvation has been gifted to us because of the Man that this Child would become, and through God's grace we have believed it.
To Bethlehem straight th' enlightened shepherds ran
To see the wonder God had wrought for man
And found, with Joseph and the blessed maid,
Her Son, the Savior, in a manger laid;
Then to their flocks, still praising God, return,
And their glad hearts with holy rapture burn.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 84:4)
