Today's Daily Bread
Our Daily Bread
Every year, I enjoy listening to the BBC’s worldwide live radio
broadcast of the Christmas Eve service from King’s College Chapel in
Cambridge, England. This Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols combines
Scripture readings, prayers, and choral music in a moving service of
worship. One year, I was struck by the announcer’s description of the
congregation leaving the magnificent chapel, saying they were “stepping
out of this moment of grace and back into the real world.”
Wasn’t it that way on the first Christmas? The shepherds heard an
angel announce the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11),
followed by a “multitude of the heavenly host praising God” (vv.13-14).
After they found Mary, Joseph, and the Baby in Bethlehem, the shepherds
couldn’t help telling others about this Child (v.17). “The shepherds
went back to work, glorifying and praising God for everything that they
had heard and seen, which had happened just as they had been told” (v.20
Phillips).
They had been changed by their “moment of grace.” As they stepped
back into their real world, they carried the good news about Jesus in
their hearts and voices.
May we too take God’s grace into the real world this Christmas and every day of the new year.
May the grace that we encounter
At this time of Christmas cheer
Not be true just in this season
But remain throughout the year. —Sper
At this time of Christmas cheer
Not be true just in this season
But remain throughout the year. —Sper
Take the joy of Christmas with you every day.
No comments:
Post a Comment