12-24-2018

        Good Morning All,

              Luke 2:17; “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child”

    We humans are an inquisitive lot.  We like to find answers and then tell others what we saw.  The other day I was in town leading a Bible Study and as I waited to leave the parking lot; I saw flashing red lights like a police car or ambulance or fire truck.  So, I turned right instead of left and drove down the street to see what was what.  I saw a couple of fire trucks, a police car and an ambulance parked in front of one of the schools.  I texted my wife and told her to follow the news because something was going on.  It turned out to be a small fire in a bathroom; nothing too bad and no one was hurt.

    My news wasn’t that great; nothing like the shepherds.  As I read this verse, especially at each Christmas season, I wonder about the people who heard the shepherds; what did they think?  Scriptures tells us that they wondered at what they heard but did they remember it when Jesus was preaching throughout the land.  Did they recall the words of those simple shepherds when they heard of Lazarus’ death and Jesus calling him back to life?  Did they remember when news that Jesus, who was crucified-died and buried; was now seen by the disciples and others?  Did they remember those shepherds and what they told them that day in Bethlehem while everyone was registering for the Roman Empire to have a more efficient tax structure?

    I think this because we will see quite a few people who we only see once or twice a year; some we see less than that.  Do they remember what they heard?  Does it ever play on their mind after they leave church?  You really never know.  You pray they will but the formation and nurturing of faith is the work of the Holy Spirit so we leave it in His hands.  Yet we keep proclaiming; you keep telling them about Jesus.

    You might have friends or relatives who fall into this group of people.  You wonder if they ever hear; you wonder if they ever really listen.  I don’t know but I do know that we never give up.  We never give up preaching the Gospel of Jesus to those around us and we keep praying that as the seed is planted that one time, the Spirit will move them.  We know that God’s Word never returns empty but that it always accomplishes its goal.  So keep proclaiming; keep praying and keep believing that the Spirit will work.

    Keep talking, keep trying, keep loving, keep praying and keep trusting that the truth of Jesus will accomplish its goal of saving those who hear it.  That is why Jesus came and that is why the shepherds spoke; the truth about Jesus will set you free!

Father, we often wonder about our effectiveness in proclaiming Your Word.  Keep us mindful that all things flow according to your will.  Keep us ever seeking to bring the lost and the suffering to your benevolent care.  Keep us seeking to bring salvation to the hopeless and dying.  Guide us by your Spirit to love and live in your eternal grace.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Pace,

Pastor Bret