Mid-week Devotional:
Week of December 22, 2025
This week we continue our series of mid-week devotionals that focus on living out our daily lives with thankfulness and praise to God our creator and redeemer.
Hear the Word of God from the New Testament book of Luke chapter 2 verses 1-18.
“1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ 15 When the angel had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.”
This is God’s word for God’s people. Thanks be to God. AMEN.
The words recorded within this scripture are filled with wonder, joy, praise, and response.
Upon hearing the words of the angel of the Lord the response of the shepherds was to go and see.
Upon seeing Mary, Joseph, and the child where the angel told them they would be the response of the shepherds was belief “a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord” had been born.
The shepherd’s response to what they heard and saw didn’t stop there. They didn’t keep to themselves all they had heard and witnessed.
They made “known what had been told them …” and the response of all those “who heard it were amazed…” (v. 17, 18).
You and I are the shepherds in the twenty-first century who have heard the words the angel told the shepherds who were “keeping watch over their flock by night” (v. 8).
As shepherds in the twenty-first century, you and I are called each day “to make known” to all those we meet through our words and actions God’s gift of love; the birth of “a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord” (v. 11, 17).
Christ has come and Christ will come again.
Thanks be to God.
AMEN.