Archive for January 3rd, 2008
Everyone
“No one is a stranger here. Everyone belongs!” These words to the powerful communion hymn Come Share the Lord emphasize that all peoples are welcomed at the Lord’s Table. But is this really true? While we may say we welcome all people, are we actively seeking to include people different from us?
Luke’s good news story of Jesus emphasizes how all sorts of people are included in his friendship circle. Even at His birth, all sorts of people find their joy in Jesus — our reading today is from Luke 2. Luke puts the story of Jesus’ birth in the context of “the entire Roman world” (verse 1). We meet Joseph and Mary, Jesus’ earthly parents. We are introduced to shepherds who tended nearby flocks of sheep (verse 8). There were angels (verses 12-14), people from the small town of Bethlehem who heard the words of the shepherds (verses 17-28), Simeon (verse 25), old Anna (verse 36), relatives and friends (verse 44), and religious teachers (verses 46-47). Young and old, men and women, religious and non-religious, important and socially insignificant were all present at Jesus’ birth. From the beginning, we are reminded that Jesus came for all people, so each of us could know that Jesus came for us … for even me!
//Inspiration: Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
//Incarnation: What this verse means to my life today
Good news is for sharing. Good news if for celebrating. As I read the gospel of Luke, I must always remember these two truths. I need to let the Holy Spirit stir the joy of the good news of Jesus again in my heart. I need to remember that many do not know this good news, but have only seen the religious distortions of this story that rob the joy and turn it into religious ritual. I must share this good news with others. Like the shepherds, I need to share Jesus. Not bash them in the head, but in my excitement of knowing Jesus, share my hope and joy.
//Invitation: My prayer for today
O Lord, help me see the opportunities you place before me today to share the joy and hope I have found in Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Click the comments link below and share your input on today’s readings!
Here a couple of questions to get you started, but feel free to add whatever you like to the discussion.
What is the verse that speaks most powerfully to you and why?
What makes it hard for you to live out God’s will for you in this passage?
What did you think about Phil’s take on this passage?
(The daily Bible reading schedule can be found online with Heartlight or hard copy out in pdf.)