I myself will search for my sheep: Devotion from Ezekiel 34:11-16

¹¹ “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. ¹² As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. ¹³ I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. ¹⁴ I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. ¹⁶ I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
             Ezekiel 34:11-16


Today we are sheep.  Not just any ordinary sheep we are God's sheep.   Ezekiel speaks of the Lord saying,  "I myself will search for my sheep and look after them."  I wonder why it says, "I myself will search..."  Wouldn't it have been just as accurate to say, "I will search for my sheep..." ?  Not being a Hebrew scholar I'm not going to try to explain how the Hebrew words came to be translated that way. However, I know that when I say the words,  "I myself will do something..."   I'm trying to communicate that I'm personally taking responsibility for something.   I'm not going to hire someone to do what I'm going to do.   In sales we might say,  "I'll take care of it myself." This is meant to give confidence and assurance in the heart of our customer who trust us to accomplish what we say.  Perhaps that is what God is communicating.   He's saying, "I'm not going to send another I'm going to be your personal shepherd.   I'm not going to send an under shepherd to do the work that I intend on doing.  

I think God is saying your that important to me that I will be your personal shepherd who will come and search for you my lost sheep.  I will protect them.  I will lead them into green pastures.  This is God's guarantee that when we are lost "He" will come after us.   and don't you know that that is the promise of Christmas?   Its the promise that Jesus, who is the Divine God, came into the world to be our Savior!  "...and they will call him Immanuel which means, God with us." (Matthew 1:23)

God came in person.

Yes, God sent John the Baptist as a messenger to let us know he was coming but God came in person to do what only God could do.  He came to take us out of the kingdom of darkness and to bring us into the kingdom of light.  He came to Judge the living and the dead.  He came to die for the sins of the world.  Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  John 10:11

Now this is not to say that God doesn't use under shepherds to minister to each of us.  That is the role of the pastors and elders of each church.   But even then, if those "under shepherd" are negligent or not able to lead us and protect us from the crises of life,  God promises that He will Shepherd us.  The responsibility falls upon God's shoulders.  And those are pretty good shoulders indeed.   1 Peter 1:3 tells us,  "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 

Indeed God sent His best for us.  God came in the flesh and dwelt among us!  So as the Apostle Paul proclaims and asks,  "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him,  graciously give us all things?"  (Romans 8:32)

To Ponder:  The shepherd has come to you. God is looking for you.  Will you trust Him?  Will you follow Him?  

"It's all about the gift"

Merry Christmas to everyone!  I hope this has been a wonderful day for you.

As always Christmas has been lots of fun at the Brown home.   We start by opening up our presents before 9:00 am while enjoying the smell of home made cinnamon rolls in the oven.   My wife makes the best!!

As a family we especially enjoy watching each other open the gifts we bought for them.  I think we like watching their reaction to the presents as much as we enjoy getting our own.  Okay  maybe that sounds like an adult thing to say but it is true.  I guess it only makes sense that if we have searched for the right gift we are anxious to see the reaction when it's opened.

When it comes to gifts, I think sometimes we know we've bought the right one!  Sometimes its because of all the hints. hahah  .Other times we're not sure if the gift is destined for the service desk return counter or not.

I think we did good this year.  I don't think that anyone will have to fight the lines to give back gifts!

Yes gift giving at Christmas can be a lot of fun and hopefully your loved ones enjoyed everything you selected for them.    Socks seemed to be a real theme for our family this year.   Christmas socks for the girls and the older boys (I'm the oldest boy of course) received everyday crew socks!  We needed them...  I know I have a lot of holy socks to throw out.  Movies was also a hit.  Everything from adventure, comedies, love stories to Disney.  There's no reading material this year.  We'll maybe next time.

Hopefully along with all the wonderful gifts you'll remember the greatest gift given by the greatest gift giver of all.  Yes, today we celebrate that we have been given a Savior.  I'm pretty sure God knew that he had the right gift for us and I'm sure that he waits with anticipation to see how we'll respond to that gift.  I wonder how sad he is when we reject or turn away his gift.

This Christmas receive the gift of Jesus.  I know that you'll be glad that you did!

Now it's on to another Christmas tradition around the Browns.  Taking naps and enjoying the smells of the traditional Christmas Lasagna.  Oh what a gift it is to have a wonderful wife who's also a great cook!

God bless and Merry Christmas

The greatest miracle of all! Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6

⁶ For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

So what was the most amazing miracle about the Christmas Story?

Was it the angels appearances to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds?

Was it the star that shined in the sky and the Wise men who traveled so far to follow it?

Was it the virgin birth?

Was it the choice for Jesus parents lowly and humble Mary and Joseph?

I think that the biggest miracle is Christ Birth.   Jesus our Lord humbly entering the world as a baby.  Never mind that it seems unfitting for a king!   Never mind that Mary and Joseph could find no room in the inn.  But how could God fit inside a mothers womb?  How could Jesus be fully human and fully God at the same time?  God incarnate..... really?   That's the mystery that I can't comprehend. 

Yes Isaiah proclaims, "For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given and the government will be upon his shoulders."

God with us.  Emmanuel!  That is the most wonderful and the most amazing miracle of all.

With that one miracle everything changes doesn't it!  Hope is reborn and peace seems possible even in our world today!

God with us.  Think about that this morning?  Think about the Holy Spirit that Jesus sent to live inside of us?

The star and the angels were more flashy.  The three kings from a far more royal looking.  The virgin birth is more controversial.   But the true star of Christmas was a small baby born in a manger bed.

Have you made Jesus the star of your life?   Does he have first place in your heart?  Christmas is a reminder of another miracle that happens every day as people put there hope, trust and life in the hands of their Savior.

To Ponder: Why don't you renew your faith in that miracle today?

 Our salvation in Christ is a miracle that each of us can have a part in this morning.  Yes, All of us can join the Christmas story!  Because Jesus came for us.

So what's the celebration all about? Isaiah 9:6,7

"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:6-7

Its Christmas season and there are few texts that say Christmas better than our scripture for today.   I remember in High School and perhaps other times in life singing this text as a part of the Handle's Messiah.   It speaks of the peace that will happens when the Lord sits upon the throne of David.  It will happens as Christ brings justice, righteousness to this world.  The government will rest on his shoulders not on the shoulders of elected officials, frail sinful leaders and judges that lack wisdom and understanding.

We long for this day...   So why celebrate today?  Have you looked at the world lately?   Do we have a reason to be joyful? Do we have reasons to be hopeful?

I guess this is a good question that we generally try to avoid at this time of the year.  For some Christmas is just a month to put the blinders on.  At best it is a celebration of family and friends.  I heard on the news that the average family spends $700 at Christmas time.  That's a lot of cash!  So has Christmas become a huge boost to the economy?  Perhaps but come January is there any more peace and good will on earth? 

Maybe Christmas is just time for Children.  I guess you could say I'm being a pessimist.  Oh don't get me wrong I love Christmas and all the lights, special concerts, services and giving gifts.  So perhaps Christmas is just a rehearsal for the peace on earth that is yet to come?

Or perhaps Christmas is about something much more as the Grinch would learn.

Perhaps Christmas is like a seed that has yet to grow to full bloom.  Its a confirmation of the Peace that can be and will be.  It's about a hope that we have now because a Savior, the son of Peace has entered our world.  Perhaps Christmas is a Dream that started at Jesus Birth and will find it's completion when our text is fulfilled.  Perhaps Christmas is a celebration that we have already won!  Perhaps Christmas is a challenge and a hope that we will become the people of light that the world is so desperately waiting for!  

What is Christmas to you?   May your preparations focus upon the true spirit of hope, peace, joy and love this Advent season.