Following the Star

Pause

We have waited long;
Waited in Hope,
Peace,
Joy,
Love.

We celebrate Light,
God’s arrival,
the Nativity.

And still we pray:
Come, Jesus, Come!

Listen

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

Luke 2:15-20

Think

As soon as the angels announced the birth of Jesus, the shepherds wanted to see for themselves. They went to Bethlehem and searched for the manger, where they found Mary and Joseph and Jesus. They had an encounter with the living God. Jesus the Savior became real for them. And their response should be our response, too: they go and tell others about what they have “seen and heard,” and they praise God!

Think about when Jesus became real to you. Think about what you have seen and heard. Have you seen God answer prayers? Have you felt God’s presence when you have needed it most? Have you received guidance for a situation you were facing? Have you seen or heard or experienced transformation in a person’s life or in your own life? Have you seen God’s healing and wholeness in your church or in the world? Have you felt empowered when God has used you to serve and love others? If so, then tell others! Share with others all that you have seen and heard.

David Loleng

Pray

Amazing God, thank you for all the ways that you have been involved in my life. Help me to be a witness for you, to share simply what I have seen and heard. Through Christ, I pray, amen.

Go

“Could it be true, this Bethlehem story of a Creator descending to be born on one small planet? If so, it is a story like no other. Never again need we wonder whether what happens on this dirty little tennis ball of a planet matters to the rest of the universe. Little wonder a choir of angels broke out in spontaneous song, disturbing not only a few shepherds but the entire universe.”

Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew, 2002

Jesus’ coming has changed everything. Because of Jesus we are transformed. As changed people we are called to join with Jesus Christ in the transformation of lives, families, communities, and the world.

Go now into your world; go in Christ Jesus!