“So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ~ Luke 2:15
REFERENCE:
God put great honor on the town of Bethlehem on the day our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born. Micah prophesied many years before, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel…” (Micah 5:2). God did something great in a despised town. Let us go to Bethlehem.
The irony of the birth of Jesus is that, although He is God, He chose to be man; although He is a King, He chose to be born to a carpenter; although the world is His, He chose to be born in a manger, and although He could have been born in Jerusalem, the royal city of king David, but He came through Bethlehem. Therefore, those who seek Him will find him through humility.
The shepherds, in our account, must have had a tiring day, and now, even at night, they kept watch over their flock, perhaps seated around a campfire. Suddenly, they saw a bright light – the glory of God – shine around them. An angel of God brought them glad tidings that Israel’s long-awaited Savior had come. He is now on earth, but He is in another part of town, Bethlehem.
On hearing the news, the shepherds said to themselves, “Let us go to Bethlehem to see…” They considered the arrival of the King of Kings to be worthwhile good news; they left their business, ignored their fatigue, and went to see the newborn King. God had come to their neighborhood, and they would not miss the opportunity to see and worship Him. Christmas is a reminder that the King of kings is here with us. Drop whatever keeps you from Him and go to Him in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem is the place to encounter the King. The birth of Jesus is a call to action, an invitation to come to the newborn King, the Savior of the world. It is a time to let the wonder of His birth draw us to a closer walk with Him. Let us go to Bethlehem and make room for Him in our lives. He has made His entry into earth; it is now our responsibility to go to and worship Him.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Matthew 2:1-2, Matthew 2:9-11, and Matthew 12:42
PRAYER:
+ I thank You, Father, for sending Jesus into the world to reveal You to me in a very relatable and meaningful way.
+ I receive the humility to go to ‘Bethlehem’ to see and worship Jesus, to make my life available to Him, and to spare nothing in spreading the good news of His birth, death, and resurrection.
