Today is the first Sunday in Advent- the time of year when churches begin their countdown to Christmas. Since Sunday is a "your choice" day, I thought I'd share with you one of the advent devotions I wrote for our church. Only read it if you want to! And as with all the other photos I've uploaded today, there is no need to comment as I'm just trying to catch up!
It was a chilly and quiet night. The rolling Judean Hills were just a ways off in the distance. In the fields outside of Bethlehem the sound of bleating sheep intermittently broke through the quiet as shepherds, tired from the day's work of grazing and watering, rested by their cooking fire with stars twinkling overhead. It was another day which was the same as the day before which was the same as the day before and so on. Life can seem to be that way, no matter what profession you are in.
Some of the most ancient business documents in the world are shepherding contracts. They are recorded on small clay tablets and detail the expectations of the owner of the flock as to the duties of those whom he has hired to deliver and protect his flock. And so on this night a band of shepherds had brought their flocks to the grazing fields because it was a good place to sleep. It was the place to get the job done.
We often think of the shepherds in one of two ways. We might have an image of an idyllic life; one with little stress and undisturbed by the necessity of household bills or a demanding boss. Or we see them as a roughneck, unskilled in the social graces and leading a solitary life by choice. Neither of these extremes would be accurate, but it is true that in Biblical times (and in some cases today), shepherds do prefer the open spaces of the fields as opposed to the more sedentary aspects of village life. For one group of shepherds, that solitary existence was about to change drastically.
Can you imagine what it must have been like to see only the light of a fire in one moment, and the light of God's glory in the next? I would imagine that it was much like the reaction we have when turning on a bright light in a dark room. But this light was far more powerful and instead of comfort, it evoked awe. Secondly, can you imagine that after you got over the shock of such a bright light what it must have felt like when the angel first spoke? It's no wonder that before the angel actually brings the message, he must reassure the shepherds not to be fearful! But what a message!
Although we may have perceived the shepherds to be solitary figures, these shepherds knew they needed a Savior, for their immediate response is to go and see "the thing that the Lord has made known to us". And, once they have seen the Savior, they leave rejoicing, which says to me that they believed what they had heard and now believed it to be true.
During Advent some churches decorate a tree with ornaments called crismons. They are usually symbols which depict things connected with Bible and one's faith. One Advent crismon is a cross with two shepherd's staves. The cross speaks of Jesus as our Savior, for He has saved us from the penalty of Sin. The staves (also called crooks) are crossed at the center forming the Greek letter chi (pronounced kee) which is the first letter on the name Christ. It reminds us of Jesus' words about Himself in John 10:14-15. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My own; and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
@tara11 Thank you Tara!
@kerristephens Thanks Kerri!
@prttblues Thank you Bev!
@vposey Thank you Vickie!
Thank you so much ladies! I am so glad you liked the piece.
Thank you Rick!
Thank you Colleen!
Thank you both!