Daily Devotional Monday 28th December 2020
by William Moody
Luke 2:8–20
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 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!”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.
Footnotes
[1] 2:14
Some manuscripts peace, good will among men (ESV)
In Jesus’ birth there was humility but also glory; humility in being placed in a feeding trough, glory in how the angels wondrously declare the news; humility in that the birth is first proclaimed to shepherds who were outcasts, glory in the message ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace toward men!’
It is always a constant struggle for the Christian to maintain the right view of Christ. A view that contains both His humility and His glory, His humanity and His deity. Think of which is lacking most in your picture of Christ. Do you see him as fully human? Do you see Him as fully God? He is wonderfully both, the One mediator between God and man.
Peace is one thing many people greatly need. Peace with God, peace in their relationships with others, peace in their hearts. Have you this peace?
The shepherds don’t just hear this message but they seek this Jesus for themselves. Are you actively seeking to know Jesus, either for the first time or in a better way (v15)?
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