December 26
Scripture of the day: "In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' ... When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, 'Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.' So they ... found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger ... The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen" Luke 2:8-20
Thought of the day: An angel, and then more angels, appeared to the shepherds during that first Christmas night. The shepherds were the first outsiders to hear the good news of Jesus' birth. They visited Him at the manger ... and then glorified and praised God for all they had heard and seen.
Challenge of the day: It was appropriate that shepherds came to Him first. Later, John the Baptist said of Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29. And Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." John 1:29. Continue your Christmas celebration. Worship the Lamb! Worship your good shepherd!
THIS DAILY BYTE OF THE WORD, COPYRIGHT 2014, WAS PRINTED LEGALLY FROM WWW.EBREAD.ORG. YOU MAY COPY IT, UNCHANGED, BUT ONLY WITH THIS SOURCE AND COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ATTACHED ... AND ONLY FOR FREE OR AT-COST DISTRIBUTION. BIBLE QUOTATIONS ARE FROM THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.