15 D E CE MB E R
THE PLACE OF GOING FORTH
Heavenly Father, thank You for the angels proclaiming Jesus’ birth. Thank You for the shepherds spreading the good news. Today, please fill me with the desire to join them in announcing that salvation has come. Amen
M I CAH 5: 1 -4 Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.
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‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.’ 2
Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labour bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
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He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 4
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lot of attention was suddenly focused on the small town of Bethlehem. Jews from many parts of the world came to be counted in a census. Mary and Joseph travelled COME FOR ME ONE there from Nazareth. Shepherds came from the fields to see the Baby lying in a manger WHO WILL BE RULER (LUKE 2:15-16) after a multitude of angels had OVER ISRAEL . . . HE come to announce, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on WILL STAND AND whom his favour rests” (VV. 13-14). SHEPHERD HIS FLOCK Every Christmas, in our imagination, we go to Bethlehem to celebrate Jesus’ birth. But we IN THE STRENGTH OF cannot stay there; we must leave. The angels THE Lord. returned to heaven. Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem and then sought safety in Egypt. MICAH 5:2, 4 The shepherds’ exit gives a clear message to us. They left the stable and told everyone about the holy Child. “All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (V.18). It’s appropriate for us to do the same. Micah prophesied that from Bethlehem would go forth a Ruler of Israel, the eternal Maker of the world, the Good Shepherd who had come to save mankind from sin (MICAH 5:2-4). This season, let’s join those who have gone forth from their visits to Bethlehem to proclaim the good news of Christ, who came to save us. o DAVID C. EGNER
BETHLEHEM . . . OUT OF YOU WILL
Read today’s passage again. Where do you see Jesus shepherding you in His strength? Do you live securely in Him, no matter how uncertain and trying each day may be?
Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus left heaven to rescue me. Show me where I need to go and who I need to tell of Your great salvation.
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