The Bible describes several different people seeing an angel and the most common response is fear. (Numbers 22:31, Judges 6:22, Dan. 10:7, Matt. 16:5)
These shepherds are no different.
Luke 2:9 KJV — 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.
But they experienced something more.
Luke 2:13-14 KJV — 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.
These humble shepherds saw and heard a host of angels proclaiming the birth of Jesus.
The gift of God’s Son was so momentous an occasion that a host of angels sang.
Luke 2:20 KJV — And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
The shepherds glorified God, praising Him.
The praises of those messengers of God and those of the shepherds of long ago stand as an example.
May we join them and together, rejoice in the salvation of the world!
Both Anne and Jase entered looking expectantly at me.
That expression which hovers between anticipation and “knowing something she doesn’t know” was all over them.
I looked up and raised my eyebrows.
“Yes?”
“Jase found something!” Anne’s voice was full of pleasure.
I looked at him.
“Here!” He reached out and placed a brand new egg in my hands.
All three of us cheered like our team won a State title!
I took a picture of it and texted my husband.
With the tag line: “Jesus heard you, yesterday.”
(For just last night, as he was helping me shut up the coop, he stated he was getting a bit weary of waiting for our chickens to start laying.)
My husband responded to my text with joyful comments and questions as to when and where it was discovered.
His last text read: “So funny I could be so happy about an egg!”
Which were my exact words to our oldest daughter, when I related the occasion over the phone.
Yet, why shouldn’t we be excited?
What’s wrong with rejoicing over the gift of our chickens and the egg?
Yes, it’s a little thing, but God gave us this little thing.
I think it’s right to thank Him for it, and be excited about it.
For if we wait to praise Him for only the big things will we ever?
Is it not in life’s little things, the day-to-day blessings, where we get a much clearer understanding of the goodness of God and His continual care?
Thus, I expect to praise God for eggs, chickens, veggies from the garden, rabbits, sheep, goats, sunsets, family, friends, flowers, good books, home cooked food, warm blankets, clothes, the beauty around us,…for all these good things are gifts from Him.
And His faithfulness and love are worth recognizing and rejoicing over.
Psalm 55:22 KJV — Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
He has definitely been sustaining us.
And I’m so thankful.
Praise the Lord!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for this gift of an egg. We are so blessed to be able to see the outcome of our toil in this tiny package. Lord, thank You for the joy we experienced, just in a small thing. Please help us never to grow callous to Your blessings nor forgetful of Your faithfulness. Lord, You sustain us daily, just the beating of our hearts and the breath in our lungs is testimony to Your gifts. Lord, please continue to show us how to rejoice over the small things. How to find peace through Your promises. How to rest in Your salvation and yet still be diligent servants, faithful in the tasks at hand. Lord, I praise Your holy name! Thank You! Amen.
1 Chronicles 16:10 KJV — Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
It’s not enough to simply seek Him, we should be rejoicing as we do, for He deserves all glory and honor.
1 Chronicles 16:31 KJV — Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
Recalling that He made us, and His kingdom has no end are reasons to rejoice.
Psalm 5:11 KJV — But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
These governments and nations we now know are temporary, but God and His kingdom are eternal.
Psalm 9:2 KJV — I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
We find both security and joy in placing our trust in God Most High.
Psalm 13:5 KJV — But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
Jesus is our Savior and truly worthy of praise!
Habakkuk 3:18 KJV — Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
No matter the circumstances facing each one of us, we can choose to rejoice in God Almighty, remembering and praising Him.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for salvation! Lord, You are worthy of all praise, all glory. I thank You for how You sustain us and provide for us. Thank You that we can rejoice in You and trust in Your Word. This world is not the end and no matter the pain or suffering we experience here, we have so much to look forward to in Heaven. Thank You, Jesus! Amen.
One of the enemy’s best weapons against our faith, fear.
It can spring out at the most unlikely places and lie to us so well that we actually avoid the blessings of the Lord.
But we must fight fear, for the very things fear would caution us to guard against are the ones God uses the most.
Proverbs 3:25-26 NKJV — Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
For the child of God, fear is never to be our reason for action, but rather we are to trust in Him.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 KJV
Because the wonderful thing about being a follower of Christ Jesus is often the trials and tribulations fear would caution against are really opportunities of blessing.
Matthew 5:11-12 NKJV — “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Scripture teaches us to rejoice when trials and tribulations come, for through them the Lord works.
James 1:2-4 NKJV — My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Trials and tribulations are not something we need to seek, but we should realize they are part of following Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 4:1-2NKJV — Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
God uses suffering.
Fear would say, “Look out for number one”.
In contrast, God’s Word says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10 KJV
Jesus put it best:
Mark 8:35 KJV — For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
Let us guard against fear and put our faith in the Lord Jesus, for He alone knows what is best and His truth is life.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for this wonderful truth, that we need not fear anything, but can place our trust completely in You. Lord, thank You that You use trials and tribulations to build our faith, to teach us, to hone our character. Thank You that our life here on earth is temporary and for those who have believed upon You, we have eternity to look forward to. Thank You, Lord, that whatever lies the enemy is trying to use against us, we have the truth in Your Word. Please let us hold tightly to it and walk in loving obedience this day. Amen.
1 Peter 1:3-4 NKJV — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
Unless we truly understand the truth of these words, we will miss finding hope.
Because true hope, confident expectation, is through Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:12 NKJV — “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Thus, when we believe on the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ and we accept His payment for our sins, we are granted hope, confident expectation, of eternal life.
Our future lies in heaven with Him.
Therefore, nothing on this Earth is permanent.
No circumstance is everlasting.
No pain endures past the grave.
Jesus said:
John 14:3 NKJV — “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Thus, finding hope resides in understanding salvation.
Finding hope requires our complete surrender to God.
It’s also a beautiful daily practice.
Romans 12:12 KJV — Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
For the follower of Jesus, our hope is in Christ and in this truth we can rest secure, patiently hopeful.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for Your Word. Thank You for salvation. Thank You that You know what each one of us needs each day. Lord, help us to daily rejoice in our hope, to be patient in tribulation, and steadfast in prayer. Help us to view life through Your Word. Lord, please continue to polish and hone us as we seek to honor You every day. I love You, Jesus. Thank You for first loving me. Amen.
Not unlike the process of sanding down through the old top finish, are trials upon our lives.
When difficulties, disappointment, and tragedy hit, our hearts are suddenly uncovered.
In those days of trial we have a continual choice.
How will we respond?
What will we prioritize?
Where does our treasure abide?
For those who have chosen to follow Jesus, scripture is clear.
We are to surrender.
Matthew 16:24 KJV — Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Dieing daily to ourselves and following Jesus is an opportunity to let go of everything we think we need.
After all Jesus had no personal possessions as He died on the cross, dead men need nothing in the grave.
We are to trust.
2 Samuel 22:3 KJV — The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
Psalm 4:5 KJV — Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
When we have nothing we are clinging to besides Jesus, our hearts are much more able to find peace.
We are to praise.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 NKJV
Through rejoicing in God Almighty, we are walking in the trust and faith of true understanding that it is patience which has a perfect work in our hearts.
What are we being patient for?
The return of Christ.
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:11-13 NKJV
Jesus is coming back!
As we walk through trials let us remember that God is using those things to reveal our hearts.
We should choose to cling to Jesus only.
We must confess our sins and humble ourselves before the Lord.
We can rejoice in His works, for He is good.
Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. Psalms 78:35 NKJV
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your faithfulness and patience. Lord, thank You for using the things of this life to teach us. Lord Jesus, please help us embrace all that life brings as an opportunity to draw closer to You. Thank You for revealing our hearts and for Your Word which teaches us how to respond. May the knowledge of the glory of God fill the Earth.
patientlyhopeful 