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1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:1-20 New International Version of The Bible)
A wondrous Monday to each of you, ConCafe Family! May you, Friend,remember that the night we are talking about was just for you! All of the events from the manger to the tomb were with you in mind! May that bless you and keep you. Please continue to pray for one another, for needs shared and needs hidden; pray for yourselves as well.
This is the story most of us have heard since our days of Sunday school, children's sermons, our parents' Bible readings, or Grandma and Grandpa's stories; but every time someone new hears this story and the reason behind it, the ancient story becomes new, again. We cannot question its relevance even today; a loving God acted in a very un-Hollywood way. A peasant couple, filled with faith, and led by the Holy Spirit, became parents for the very first time. Though they were very young in age, they were wise beyond their years. Their lives would never be the same. Given the traditions of the culture, theirs was perhaps an arranged marriage; yet given what we know of their character and faith, they were deeply committed to each other and to the shared mission and I personally believe they were in love. Their first love was to God, and they came to a point where they fell in love with each other. One thing is certain, that night, they both fell immediately in love with the baby Mary delivered. For that moment when they laid their eyes on that newborn, all was right with the world. They could just as easily been in the master bedroom of Caesar's palace in Rome, or in the borrowed stable of a kind Bethlehamian, and using the feed trough as His cradle. And to add a powerful accent to the impact this birth would be having on the world, an angel appears to shepherds in the field nearby to the stable. With the angel came the glory of the Lord, which meant the brilliance of Heaven shone on them, bringing fear to them, and the angel said, "Do not be afraid. I bring 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."
In the town named "house of bread," and famed for the king Israel loved, the world's savior was born; this was good news and great joy for the entire world. As these hard-working shepherds, muddied with the ground on which they worked, those to whom "It's dirty work but someone has to do it" could find no better fit; they were chosen by God to be the messengers of God's message to those who would hear. Still shaking from this unexpected and unbelievable experience, a choir of angels appears and sings to them the praises of God; "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests." Once their concert ended they resolved to go to Bethlehem and see for themselves about that which had happened, and declaring themselves believers by calling God, "Lord," they hurried and found the baby and His parents as they had been told, and begin to share the word about this baby.
The night of all nights! There has never been, nor ever will be, another night like this. The late Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, founder of GuidePosts, author of the best-seller "The Power of Positive Thinking," and pastor of Marble Collegaite Church in New York City, stood at a traffic light waiting to cross the busy streets of NYC, saw all the shoppers and thought, "All of this because of the birth of a baby two thousand years ago." The impact of the birth continues to astound and marvel many, and more importantly, the number who have surrendered their sins to Jesus and found new life in abundance, owe their eternities to Jesus. That the birth of this baby in that remote corner of the earth could lead to one of the largest religions in the world is still mind-blowing. That, dear friends, was the greatest gift the world ever received.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for Christmas. Thank You for doing just what the world needed, what I needed. Make me worthy of serving You and those You love; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Show someone the hope that is yours because of what God did.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
