"Christ Happily Redeems,
Imparting Salvation Today Mightly As Savior!" (C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S)
By Ramesh
C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard
Tuesday, Dec 25, 2007
"In
those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken
of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place
while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own
town to register. 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. He went there to register with Mary, who
was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they
were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to
her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. " (Luke 2:1-7,
NIV)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch
over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and
the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But
the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of
great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a
Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign
to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:8-14, NIV)
I decided to focus on v. 8-14 here:
Observations:
I asked myself
who are all the characters involved?
1. Shepherds
2. Angel of the Lord
3. Lord
4. Savior, Christ the Lord
5. Baby
6. Great company of the heavenly host
7. God
Point 1: Role of the shepherds
-
Shepherds were living out in the fields nearby.
-
Shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by
night.
Interpretations:
I asked myself what is
the significance of shepherds being mentioned!
Shepherds were usually dirty from
handling the sheep, had to be alert to take care of their sheep from the
wolves and also from the sheep going astray. It is to those shepherds
that the angel of the Lord appeared which is evident from Point 2:
Observations:
Point 2: Role of the Angel of the Lord
-
An angel of
the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were terrified.
-
“But
the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of
great joy that will be for all the people.
-
Today in the
town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
-
This will be a
sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger."
Interpretations:
I asked myself the
significance of the Angel of the Lord appearing to the shepherds?
To answer that question, I thought more
about the shepherds. As I thought about the shepherds, it occurred to me
that they have to clean their sheep, they have to take them to find
green pasture, keep them safe from the wolves, and keep them from going
astray. Being a shepherd could have been a lowly position and a tedious
position. They could have been down on their job but we are not told.
We are told however that they were terrified when they saw the Angel of
the Lord and the glory of the Lord shone around them. We don’t know what
was going through their minds to make them terrified.
When the Angel of the Lord saw them
terrified, the first thing that the angel tells them is
‘Do not be afraid’. Then the angel proceeds
to tell them why the angel came to them. The angel Gabriel does a
similar thing when she greets Mary. This can be found in the
What do your G.R.E.E.T.I.N.G.S do?
The angel came to them to bring them
good news of great joy that will be for all the people by telling them
that in the town of David, a Savior has been born to them, who is
Christ, the Lord. They were just shepherds watching over their flock by
night but the Angel of the Lord saw them to be special. They were given
the first message regarding a Savior being born which is Christ, the
Lord.
Why the shepherds though
and not anyone else?
I believe the angel of the Lord wanted
to introduce them to the One who would become the CEO of all shepherds.
As shepherds, they knew how to take care of their sheep from a earthly
perspective. Now the angel of the Lord wanted to introduce them to a
Savior born in Bethlehem who is Christ, the Lord who would one day
become a Shepherd Himself, not any Shepherd but the Good Shepherd.
When Christ grew up and became the Good
Shepherd, I believe those shepherds who were watching over their flock
by night could have said to themselves, ‘as shepherds we saw Him as a
baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger
(F.E.E.D) and now He has become a Shepherd too and we had the honor
of seeing Him born.
It is important to remember that those
shepherds whom the angel of the Lord spoke to could have still been
alive because when Jesus began His ministry, He was only 30. Shepherds
in those days were young whether it was Moses or David as examples.
One thing however they would realize is
that Christ became not the shepherd of sheep like they were, but that He
became their Good Shepherd and the shepherds were His flock.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his
life for the sheep.” (John 10:10, NIV)
Jesus also said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep
know me– just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay
down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this
sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and
there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)
It is exciting to know that Jesus is the
Good Shepherd and we are His flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to
the shepherds to tell them the glorious good news of a Good Shepherd
that was born in Bethlehem. I believe it was also to help the shepherds
see how a Good Shepherd would one day lead His flock including
themselves. Whatever they were going through, they were given the Good
News of a baby born in Bethlehem.
To be continued in the 'I AM' series at
"Who is your S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D?"
(June 30,
06)
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14, NIV)
After the shepherds received the
message, four things happened:
-
Suddenly a great company of the
heavenly host appeared with the angel .
-
A great company of the heavenly host, with the angel
praising God
-
A great company of the heavenly host, with the angel,
said, “Glory to God in the highest”
-
A great company of the heavenly host with the angel
said, “On earth peace to men on whom his favor
rests.”
The great company of the heavenly host
could have appeared earlier but they appeared after the shepherds’ fears
were diminished. Rather than sending multiple angels, only the angel of
the Lord appeared to them. Now the shepherds who were lonely and
watching their flock by night were visited by not only the angel of the
Lord but they got to witness a great company of the heavenly host
praising God and saying, "Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor
rests."
Applications:
I saw a lot of implications for our own
lives here!
I learned that the shepherds were
faithfully doing their job of watching over their flock by night. They
were there without leaving their sheep. It was their livelihood to watch
over their sheep. It could have been boring but they still were doing
it.
Amidst their job, the angel of the Lord
appeared to them to give them “good news of great
joy”. The joy they were going to experience is seeing the Savior,
Christ the Lord who would one day become their Good Shepherd and lead
them. Not only would He become their Good Shepherd but He would be
their Mighty God and Everlasting Father. Remember Jesus said, 'I AM'.
God used 'I AM' when addressing
Moses who happened to be a shepherd too and was called to lead the
Israelites out of Egypt as his new flock.
Whatever job we are doing or wherever we
are, let us faithfully do our part. Christ the Lord can be our Good
Shepherd too!
I ask you now dear
friend how do you relate to the shepherds this Christmas?
Dear friend, no matter what your
occupation is, where you have been, what you have done, what you are
doing, you can come to the Good Shepherd as you are and allow Him to
work in your life, bind up your wounds, and lead you.
As the shepherds were introduced to a
Savior by the angels so can you just as you are! If you are all muddy
and yucky with things that have happened, allow Jesus to clean you. He
will clean you so well and cover you with His precious cleansing blood.
You are never out of His love and never out of His reach. He will hold
you in His arms of love as a Good Shepherd holds a sheep. He will be
your Mighty God and Everlasting Father! He will be your Wonderful
Counselor and Prince of Peace!
The angels came to the shepherds for a
reason. It is to introduce them to the One who came to be their Good
Shepherd one day. Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd too! Yes, He does
friend! Yes, He does! Come and give your life to the Good Shepherd this
Christmas season!
The Good Shepherd is only a call away.
Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd and lead you. Jesus sees you as His
tender flock. He wants to lead you through green pastures and give you
everything you need. Yes, He does! He wants to guide you in the best
pathway for your life and watch your progress. No matter where you have
been, Jesus looks for you and wants to bring you back to His fold.
Yes, don't hold back and think some
other time. Now is the time of Salvation if you do not know Jesus as
your Good Shepherd or if you have known Him at one point but went
astray, you can come back! Yes, you can my friend!
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we become
His sheep that He wants to take care of when we allow Him to. When a
sheep gets lost, the shepherd goes out to look for the sheep.
Many of us can be lost in our own
problems and our own sins. Because of those things we can go astray in
life even entering dangerous situations but there is hope when that
happens.
Yes, there is friend and it is in Jesus
Christ, our Good Shepherd. Jesus shared a story in Luke 15 about 100
sheep and even if one is lost, the shepherd goes after that one and
when that one is found there is great joy and rejoicing in heaven. Jesus
wants to be your Good Shepherd this Christmas season. Yes, He does
friend!
No matter where you have been or what
you have done or what others have done to you, Jesus loves you so much
that if you were the only one living He would have still been born to
die for you and redeem you! Yes, friend Jesus wants to be your Good
Shepherd and came to seek and find that which was lost.
Friend, are you that
lost sheep? Have you gone your own way? Have you lost the meaning of
Christmas and why it is special? Have you entered dangerous situations?
Jesus is the Answer and He is there for
you! When a wolf attacks a sheep, the sheep is wounded but when the
shepherd sees that happening, if he is the Good Shepherd, he does not
stay away but comes to rescue the sheep and bind its wounds.
In life, we are attacked by a wolf that
comes like a roaring lion waiting for someone to devour and wound. Satan
is his name and attacking humanity is his game. Many have been attacked
by Satan and have been wounded but the Good News is there is a Good
Shepherd. Jesus is His name and He is there to bind up our wounds and
lead us in the right path. He wants to do that for you! Oh yes He does!
The wounds can be the sins in our lives that only the Lord's cleansing
precious blood can be the antidote for. When you come to Him, confess
your sins repenting of them, and ask Jesus to be your God and Savior, He
will because He died for your sin and came back to life to save you.
Yes, friend Jesus is alive. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus was
born as God-incarnate into this world to redeem humanity. Redeem you and
me!
Psalm 147: 3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their
wounds.”
Psalm 23 says, The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He
makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he
restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's
sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they
comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love
will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of
the LORD forever.”
May you know Christ happily redeems
intentionally souls today mightily as Savior! He came to redeem you
too! May this poem tell you the story of Christmas and keep Christ in
your heart as you pray the prayer below too!
Many, years ago, prophesy told the coming of no
ordinary child.
Entering Bethlehem, Mary & Joseph settled in a
place that was wild.
Resting there, Mary gave birth to her firstborn
Son.
Realizing from the Angels, a Savior was born, the
Shepherds did run.
Yes, they hurried off and saw the baby lying in a
manger away from danger.
Concerning what had been told about the Child, they spread the Word.
Hearing, all were amazed what shepherds said and
none were bored.
Raising their voices, appeared with Angel company
of Heavenly Host.
Indeed praising God and saying, "Glory to God in
the Highest (Most).
So overjoyed, Magi came from the East, seeing a
beautiful star.
They found house, bowed down, worshipped Christ,
after coming so far.
Magi, then presented Jesus with gifts of gold,
frankincense, and Myrrh.
And Mary, treasured up all that happened &
pondered them in her heart.
Since Herod was evil, Magi took another route in
their camel's cart.
"Christ Happily
Redeems Intentionally Souls Today Mightily As Savior!"/"How do you
relate to the shepherds this C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S?"
Won’t you come to Him
friend or help someone who is wounded do that by coming to the Good
Shepherd or leading them to the Good Shepherd?
If you want to turn to the Good
Shepherd, make this your prayer.
Prayer:
Jesus, you say, 'I AM the Good Shepherd!' God alone used 'I AM'
when speaking with Moses. You use it now to make it known that you are
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, and Prince of
Peace. Thank you for being born and all that you are to me. I want
to thank you most of all for being the Good Shepherd. I need a Good
Shepherd in my life to lead me and guide me. My sin has made me dirty on
the inside and attacks of Satan have wounded me. I have gone astray and
have done my own thing. Yet, you care for me and laid down your life for
me on the cross to give me new life as you shed your blood for me to
wash away all my sins. Your Blood became the transfusion for those
wounded by Satan. Your blood heals all the wounded areas to give us a
new life. I want that new life so I turn to you now as a sheep that has
gone astray and ask for your forgiveness of all my sins, to come and
save me Jesus. Deliver me Oh Good Shepherd! I know you can save me when
I turn to you and ask you to be my Good Shepherd. I know you died for me
and came back to life to save. Now I can hear your voice in my heart as
I stay with you. I want you to stay with me Jesus in my heart and make
my heart your home so I can always have you as my Good Shepherd with me
knowing you are my God and my Savior. This way even when I am going the
wrong way or fall in a ditch, you can pick me and set me in green
pastures. I love you Jesus! Thank you for being with me. Thank you for
loving us so much that you were born in a stable in Bethlehem so one day
you could become our Good Shepherd. I acknowledge you as my Lord and
Personal Savior. I thank you for being the Good Shepherd who laid down
His life for me the sheep and for coming back to life on the third day
to save. Thank you for being the Lamb of God. I acknowledge you as my
Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal
Savior and changing me. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and
answered me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
No matter what you feel in your heart,
know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To
make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him
as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the
Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into
prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel
of John or Gospel of
Mark! It is also important to be part of a body of believers to
help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches
Christ crucified and risen to bring us hope, healing, and help! As a
student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus too this
coming new year! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His
love this Christmas season now and forever! Amen!
Feel free to email me at
reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible,
pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My
number is 412-720-4579.
"This is my
work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work
within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)
Love in Christ,
Ramesh
|
.Click
picture to read my dad's memoriam:
Christmas Archive:
Luke 1:26-31:
What does God do with your G.E.N.E.A.L.O.G.Y? (Dec 01,
07, 11:12 a.m.)
Luke 1:26-28:
Can you say the P.R.E.S.E.N.C.E of the Lord is with you? (Dec
23, 07, 4:22 p.m.)
What do your G.R.E.E.T.I.N.G.S do? (Dec 23, 07,
5:55 p.m.)
"What kind of K.I.N.G.D.O.M will you be part of?"
(Dec 15, 05)
"What do you do with your D.O.U.B.T.S?"
(Dec 20, 05)
"Where is your P.R.A.I.S.E?"(Dec
21, 05)
"How has L.O.V.E influenced you?" (Dec 22, 06,
9:53 a.m.)
"Do you S.L.E.E.P on things?"(Dec
23, 06,
12:13 a.m.)
"How do you feel about your A.D.O.P.T.I.O.N?"(Dec
24, 05)
' I AM ' Series
Archives:
What kind of L.I.G.H.T do you follow? (Dec 13,
07, 10:09 a.m.)
"What kind of B.R.E.A.D do you eat?" (Dec 08,
07, 10:10 a.m.)
"Who is your S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D?"
(June 30,
06) |
