16 - Advent
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Christmas–Advent 2023
Day 16 | LET’S GO SEE
Christmas–Advent 2023
Day 16 | LET’S GO SEE
LET’S GO SEE
Luke 2:13-15
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’
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.’” (NKJV)
Sometimes pondering (or thinking) more deeply about a familiar verse can reveal things we may overlook.
For instance… here in Luke 2, we see the shepherds go from being terrified by the sight of the angels to listening to them tell the story and praising God, and finally – after the angels had gone – deciding to GO SEE this new Savior.
Consider this. These shepherds were “on duty.” They were being paid by someone to look after the sheep. And yet, they decided to leave their sheep (which may have cost them their jobs) and GO SEE. They were intrigued, excited, and committed to go see what God was doing.
How committed are you this Christmas? With ALL that has been going on in our world this year, are YOU focusing most of your attention on the news-de-jour, or on the ONE whose birth we celebrate?
Do you know how you can tell what someone is filling their minds with? Listen to the words they speak or write.
The shepherds didn’t have the evening news to compete with them listening to or following the angel. But today, we do. We have MANY things to distract us from the One whose birth we celebrate—the One who changed history—the One whose birth changed the calendar from BC to AD.
Prayer: LORD, forgive me for filling my mind with the cares of the world and the news of the day. It only makes me upset, angry, discouraged, and fearful… NOT what You want for me. It’s Christmas Eve Lord. Help me to focus my attention on the birth of Your Son Jesus. It was amazing, miraculous, and truly good news of great joy for ALL people. Amen.
Luke 2:13-15
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’
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.’” (NKJV)
Sometimes pondering (or thinking) more deeply about a familiar verse can reveal things we may overlook.
For instance… here in Luke 2, we see the shepherds go from being terrified by the sight of the angels to listening to them tell the story and praising God, and finally – after the angels had gone – deciding to GO SEE this new Savior.
Consider this. These shepherds were “on duty.” They were being paid by someone to look after the sheep. And yet, they decided to leave their sheep (which may have cost them their jobs) and GO SEE. They were intrigued, excited, and committed to go see what God was doing.
How committed are you this Christmas? With ALL that has been going on in our world this year, are YOU focusing most of your attention on the news-de-jour, or on the ONE whose birth we celebrate?
Do you know how you can tell what someone is filling their minds with? Listen to the words they speak or write.
The shepherds didn’t have the evening news to compete with them listening to or following the angel. But today, we do. We have MANY things to distract us from the One whose birth we celebrate—the One who changed history—the One whose birth changed the calendar from BC to AD.
Prayer: LORD, forgive me for filling my mind with the cares of the world and the news of the day. It only makes me upset, angry, discouraged, and fearful… NOT what You want for me. It’s Christmas Eve Lord. Help me to focus my attention on the birth of Your Son Jesus. It was amazing, miraculous, and truly good news of great joy for ALL people. Amen.