May Your 'Merry' Meet 'The Message'

December 26th, 2023

Blessings to you this Christmas., from the GBFC's Devotions Ministry!

SCRIPTURE: ”Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.' 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' 15 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.' 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." Luke 2:8-20

There is GLORY IN THE HIGHEST, and WE SHALL GLORY IN THE HIGHEST. With the knowing comes the response as only God, Himself, can elicit from us. This, the shepherds revealed, as did Mary previously: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." Luke 1:46-47. She recognized her 'lowly state' in the presence of the majesty of God. Humility before God must precede the inward praise to be expressed outwardly. Truest Christmas invites of our souls' soil humility, upon which we flourish, the implanted truth of 'God with us', as the seed, and the sprout to come, our personal praise, thanksgiving, adoration, and worship. And its truest reach is for the sake of all... 'good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.'
Hallelujah! Merry Christmas!

Prayer: Thankfully Lord-God, I bless You now: Glory to God in the highest! Heavenly Spirit make quickened within me, my remembrances that embrace the message of grace and mercy, In Christ Jesus. Order these steps of mine O' Lord that such as these may bless You well, and be an uplift to someone else near. With, or without a ribbon or a wrapping, I joy this gift of light and life. And for Your immeasurable act of love towards me, even as I was unlovely, I pause and vow the same, this day to You and yours as an act of faith and an expression of what You are doing now. I pray Your perfect peace to govern us all. Great is Thy faithfulness, Father-God! Amen! In Jesus' name, Amen!
Bro. McNeal Brockington