Excitement and Expectation!
Friday,
the second week of Advent
Today’s Readings: Luke 2:15-20 / Luke 4:16-22
I can’t help but sense the excitement that must have
prevailed in that tiny stable when the shepherds arrived in order to “see this thing that has come to pass, which
the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15 NKJV) When the angels returned to heaven the
shepherds were left with a burning expectation of the word that they had
just received. You’ll notice that there
were no misgivings of what they had just heard.
They didn’t say “let us go and see
if this thing be true.” No, there was no doubt in their minds that
this supernatural intervention of God was true and had, in fact, taken place! God’s rhema
Word spoken to them through the angel had stirred them up and they were ready
to go see it and spread the good news to all who would listen!
Can you imagine the unity and fellowship that was
experienced between Joseph, Mary and the shepherds? For the first time in a year or more, Joseph
and Mary could share freely with others who could fully understand all that had
occurred to them! I bet everyone was
talking at once, sharing their experiences, their feelings and their thoughts
on the future events that would come from that night’s activities!
Luke 2:19 says that Mary “kept” and “pondered”
everything that they talked about in her heart. (NKJV) How important it is for each of us to ponder,
consider and weigh the word that God gives to us. Vincent’s Word Studies explains that the term
“kept” is “a very expressive verb” implying as Robertson’s Word Pictures
says, that “she kept on keeping together
all these things. (that) They were meat
and drink to her.” Just like Mary,
we need to keep the Word alive and fresh within us. God’s Word builds expectation and excitement
is us, just like it did with our cast of players on that night in Bethlehem
many years ago.
The shepherds reacted to the overwhelming event by
returning to their flocks “glorifying and
praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.” (Luke 2:20
NKJV) They were bursting with glee and could not contain themselves! Verse 18 states that all “those who heard it marveled (or were amazed) at those things which
were told them by the shepherds.” (NKJV)
The Word that was being shared that night was different than most people
had ever heard before. Some thirty years
later, the people would respond identically to the Word that Jesus shared as He
began His public ministry! (See; Luke 4:16-22)
We should always be in a place where God’s Word
amazes us! Jesus
said that “The words that I speak to you
are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63 English Majority Text
Version) When He said they are life, He
was talking about “Zoe” life, which
in the original Greek refers to “the
absolute fullness of life!” (Thayer’s Greek Definitions) When we read or hear the Word of God, our
spirits should jump with excitement as we look forward with glee to the expected
fulfillment of that Word in our lives!
Take some time this weekend to keep and ponder the excitement
and expectation that prevailed in and around that little stable
after the birth of the Christ child. As
you do, allow yourself to become overwhelmed with His love for you and be like
the shepherds who clearly saw that “Everything
happened the way the angel had told them,” (Luke 2:20 God’s Word ©) or like
Mary, who was assured by the angel Gabriel at the very beginning, that “No word from God shall be void of power.” (Luke
1:37 ASV)
Remember too, that Hebrews 13:8 profoundly declares that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today
and forever.” (God’s Word ©) And if
He was faithful to His Word for those back then, He will do the same for you
and me today! Have a super weekend. Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking
yourself… “What excitement and expectation
am I expecting to experience today?”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your thoughts are welcomed. Please keep them within the context and flavor of this blog.