Merry
Christmas! May the incredible gift of our God born as a baby and sent to
restore our broken relationship with God never grow old or mundane. What an amazing story we celebrate today!
Luke
2: 1-20 (ESV)
”In those days a
decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This
was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of
Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because
he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his
betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there,
the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her
firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a
manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same
region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. 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. 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. For unto you is born
this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a
baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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 among those with whom
he is pleased!”
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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made
known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And
all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary
treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and
seen, as it had been told them.”
