Boxing Day 2012

Boxing Day Reading: Luke 2:17-20

Key Verse: Luke 2:18
18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Devotion:
So what is it going to be today? Sleeping after the heavy celebrations? Rushing out to go see people? Rushing out to sales? Just chilling with friends and family? Whatever you are getting up to today, the day after, take a short while to think about what Christ has done for you. After all the build-up for Christmas the day after is sometimes a bit of a let-down in comparison; somehow we expect so much more to happen the day after because of all the excitement on the day. Or maybe Christmas day was not all that it was built up to be this year…

The shepherds had come to see the Messiah. They were told by the angels that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem and were shown where to find Him. Can you imagine what they must have though when they got to the stable and found an ordinary looking baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and actually in a manger? Where were the host of angels that they had seen? Where were the crowds and the priests and kings and all manner of people coming to see the messiah that they had so longed for? They had just been given something very unique to think about and to meditate on! Here was our Messiah being born as a mere human being! How could He lower Himself to be such a ‘normal’ baby being born to very ordinary parents? They must had had quite a discussion going on about what they had seen!

And yet Mary just took this all in and held these very special moments deep in her heart. She knew what this meant to everyone because of all that had been told to her when Jesus was conceived. She now knew that she had an incredible journey ahead that was definitely going to be anything but normal! Her day after was going to be the first day of the rest of a very special life with God every step of the way! This was something very special and very personal.

But the shepherds had other things on their minds. They wanted to tell as many people as they could and to lift up God and praise Him for making this moment a reality that they were actually part of. They must have been a bit worried as well knowing that there were going to be people who did not believe them even though they saw everything with their own eyes! They now had something very special to take with them for the rest of their lives!

Points to Ponder:
How did you celebrate yesterday?

Are you still lifting up God today?