Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. . . Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:17, 18, 20, NKJV).
Dear God of Abraham, and my God, what a privilege is ours to make Your love and glory known to others. Please help us like the shepherds to go with haste and tell it on every mountain and along every hillside and to all who will listen that there is salvation in Your Son and our Savior Jesus the Christ! In His holy name we pray. Amen.
Yesterday we said that seeing helps hearing. This truth is made evident in today’s devotional: “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” All that they had seen and heard that night had left them wanting more. Therefore, they went to see for themselves.
What did they see in the stable that they left there telling everybody what they had heard concerning Baby Jesus? Why were those who heard marveling about what they heard? Why did the shepherds return glorifying and praising God?
Our Scripture for today begins with the words “Now when they had seen Him . . . “What was it about the Baby Jesus that was different from any other baby? Or was it the fact that they had heard about Him then saw Him for themselves that made the sight so spectacular? It would appear that what they saw confirmed what they had heard so now they could go and boldly share the Good News with others.
The words of an eye witness bears a lot of weight. “I saw” generates more credibility than “I heard.” Listen to the apostle John as he expresses this very thought and the end result of this kind of witnessing that comes not only from hearing but also seeing:
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:1-4. Emphasis provided).
John is talking about Jesus, the “Word of life.” For three and a half years he had followed the Savior as one of His twelve disciples. That proximity to the Master has given credibility to the gospel and the epistles that bear his name which he wrote concerning the Savior. He was an eye witness to the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. No wonder the gospel according to John and the epistles he wrote are so full of love! He had been an eye witness of that love.
What about us who have lived so many centuries after the ascension of Christ? What is it that gives credibility to our witnessing? Well, Jesus left us this recommendation: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” All of us are eye witnesses to His love . Just look at Calvary and you will witness the love of God in action. Everyday that love is extended toward each of us in different ways. So we have heard, we have seen, therefore we can share that love with others!
Happy birthday my darling Renee. May you continue to enjoy the love of God in your life! Mam