Pondering Christmas

A Devotional for Carols in the Atrium

For days I have pondered and considered and searched and asked LORD, what shall I do for a devotional for Carols in the Atrium? 

• Something different...
• Something creative...
• Something new and unique                           

And I was blessed with NOTHING!

Until yesterday afternoon when the LORD graciously reminded me that...

• It is not about all the hoopla of the “Christmas Season”
• It’s about the story of Christ’s birth...
• The celebration of Jesus...anything more and anything less is just the trappings

So I went back to the source...The BOOK. 

• No holiday celebration
• No Christmas party or event
• Not even the singing of our favorite Christmas carols should be done without the most important tradition of all...The story itself.

So, I will share it with you. Selected portions of Luke 1 and Luke 2. 

(I will read Luke 1 from the NIV and Luke 2 from the King James Version. I learned it that way when I was 8 and played the part of the Angel Gabriel and I can’t seem to read it in the NIV!”

May God Bless the Reading of the Christmas Story...

The Birth of Jesus Foretold NIV

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, 

a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 

36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 

37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”     Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 

43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies (magnifies) the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. 

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 

53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 

54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Luke 2 King James

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.

 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

 23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

 33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

 37 And she was a widow of about 84, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

I wonder if you noticed how much rejoicing there was going on?

• Elizabeth, with what kind of voice? Filled with the Spirit she cried out in a loud voice!

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 

43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, 

the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

• Mary: Her heart was so full she turned it into a song...

“My soul glorifies (magnifies) the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,           

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. 

From now on all generations will call me blessed, 

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.

• Gabriel...

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, 

I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

That wasn’t news to be whispered...that was shout it from the mountain top news!

• To which the multitude of heavenly hosts praised God and proclaimed...

  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

• The shepherds returned to where they had come from, but what were they doing?

“...glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, 

as it was told unto them.”

I think I have always wondered how their lives changed from that night. 

• Then there was Simeon. 

It had been revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the LORD’s Christ. Can you imagine how he must have felt as he gazed into the eyes of that tiny eight day old child and blessed God? That was the moment his life’s mission was fulfilled. All he could do was bless his God.

• Anna: The 84 year old woman who spent her days and her nights fasting and praying and praising her God. I love the image of this woman with a heartful of God. 

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord,
 and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 

Whenever I read of the Prophetess Anna I am reminded of Anna Stoner. Some of you may remember Jess Stoner’s sister Anna. She was an older woman who fasted, prayed and praised the LORD!

And she left me with one of my favorite Christmas funnies. For those of you who were not blessed to have known her, Anna was of our very plainly dressed Brethren in Christ saints who always wore a prayer covering. Well, one Christmas Eve Service at Cedar Grove BIC, Anna walked up to me, patted my hand and said, “Debby, you are always so nicely decorated!” 

So, here is a tradition started at the very first Christmas...the birth of Christ. And that is praising the LORD, glorifying and magnifying His name. 

Let’s start right here and right now... “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”