Bread Crumbs – Devotions for Life

Go, See, Speak, Wonder (Come, See, Hear, Wonder)

Luke 2:15-19

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  (NIV)

Near the end of Ben Stein’s movie Expelled scientists, who seek to black-list other scientists who contribute any aspect of creation to the world of God, confess to Stein (and I paraphrase) “We don’t know how all of this came to be.  There are questions even we cannot answer!”

In today’s world of populist atheism people see, hear, and witness miracles which no one can explain, but they refuse to explore or consider that perhaps what they had seen was the work of God.  

I am thankful for the shepherds who at least had the common sense to “go … and see this thing …  the Lord has made known to us.”

They went and observed that what had been told them had actually happened.   This was good scientific research … verify facts.

They went a step further and reported on what they had heard, seen, and confirmed.  They were responsible in reporting what they had heard, seen, and verified.  Again, bravo to our faithful scientists.

Imagine how much their words meant to Mary.  Surely, she had to wonder if she and Joseph in a fit of passion were simply imagining that God had spoken to them about the baby. 

It is conceivable that she was beginning to have questions about the veracity of her experience and conversations with Gabriel when she went into labor riding on a donkey and gave birth in a cattle stall.  Would God allow the Savior of the world to be born in these circumstances?

The shepherds report became words of comfort and joy for Mary and Joseph.  

When others tell me how God has acted in their lives, it lifts my faith.  Their experiences continually reconfirm for me the Truth of God’s Word.  

What a Christmas gift – the arrival of the Savior confirmed for all.

Prayer:  Lord God, Creator of all that is, my shopping is done, but I must confess there is still a gift I have to give to others – the gift of faith and knowledge of your presence in our world.  Give me the faithful courage to tell others how You have made yourself known to me.  Amen.