Read: Luke 2:8 (sheep)

In the fields very near the location where Jesus was born, shepherds were watching their sheep.  Though we do not know for certain, it is very probable that the sheep these shepherds were watching were being raised to be Passover sheep.  Once a year, Jewish families would sacrifice a sheep on the Passover holiday as a reminder of God’s salvation of Israel in the past, His covering of their sins in the present, and a hope for His provision of ultimate salvation in the end.  Because Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins, we need not sacrifice sheep any longer . . . Jesus Himself is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Question of the Day:  Have you ever trusted in Jesus Christ as your savior to take away the penalty your sins deserve?

Read: Luke 2:7 (Manger)

Kings and Presidents are normally accustomed to the finest things.  They travel first class, wear the finest clothes, and sleep on the fanciest linens.  This is true with almost all earthly leaders.  However, when Jesus (the King of Kings) comes, He spends His first night on earth NOT in the palace, but in a pen . . . a lowly manger (mangers are feeding trough’s for animals.)  This demonstrates for us the humility of Jesus and the lengths He went to join us on this earth.

Question of the Day:  Being humble does not mean thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.  What are some areas of your life where you can follow the example of Jesus and think of yourself less?

Read: Luke 2:7 (Inn)

When you go on vacation, you either stay with friends and family or at a hotel.  But what if you got to your destination and you had no friends and family there to stay with, and every hotel room was already booked up?  What would you do then?  This is the situation Mary and Joseph found themselves in on the night Jesus was born. They were away from home, without a place to stay.

Question of the Day:  There is a line in the famous Christmas carol “Joy to the World” that says, “Let every heart prepare Him room.”  Though Jesus had no room in Bethlehem, there is room for Him in our hearts.    In what way can you prepare room in your heart for Jesus this Christmas season?

Read: Luke 2:4 (David)

In Oklahoma City, we are fortunate to have the OKC Thunder as our NBA team.  On that team is a potential Hall of Fame caliber player (Russell Westbrook).  It is totally possible that we are witnessing the “glory days” of the Thunder right now.  For the nation of Israel, their “glory days” were centered around the time when King David was ruling.  He secured their borders, expanded their territory, presided over a time of prosperity, acquired the capital (Jerusalem) and purchased the material to build the Temple (that David’s son Solomon would one day construct).  For Israel . . . it didn’t get much better than that.  However, when Jesus was born, He carried with Him the promise to be David’s descendent who would establish EVEN BETTER times for God’s people than the days of King David.

Question of the Day: What would you consider to be your personal “glory days”?  Have you stopped to think that because of Jesus, our best days are still ahead of us (not behind us)?

Read: Luke 2:4 (Bethlehem)

Every place has a history . . . a story of all that has occurred there.  Boston is the birthplace of the American Revolution.  Orlando is the town that Mickey Mouse built out of the Florida swamp.  The same is true of the places in the Bible.  Bethlehem is a famous city because of its history.  It was in Bethlehem that Ruth met Boaz.  It was in Bethlehem where King David was raised and anointed.  Bethlehem was also the city from which God promised to bring the Messiah.  Jesus being born in Bethlehem fulfilled prophecy, but it also was intended to remind the nation of Israel that Jesus was the promised Savior who would reign over the earth from David’s throne in a Kingdom that would not end.

Question of the Day: Are there any special places that help remind you of God’s presence in your life (for example, a summer camp, church, retreat, home, etc.)?

Read: Luke 2:4 (Joseph and Mary traveling)

A few years ago, I had to make a 6 hour car trip while recovering from pneumonia.  My physical condition made the trip seem even longer than it really was . . . and I was traveling in a climate controlled car, sitting on a comfortable chair.  Can you imagine how long the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem must have felt for a very pregnant Mary and Joseph?  On the odometer, the distance between those locations was only 80 miles, but in a day before cars, the journey probably took them around a week — and it probably felt like a year!  Yet all this was done to fulfill the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). 

Question of the Day:  Have you ever felt like something in your life was taking FOREVER to develop?  How does reflecting on the journey to Bethlehem encourage you concerning God’s timing?

Read: Luke 2:4 (Nazareth)

Joseph and Mary were from a small town in northern Israel known as Nazareth.  In Jesus’s day, the city of Nazareth had a population of less than 500 people.  Instead of having the parents of Jesus be celebrities who lived in famous cities, God chose Mary and Joseph . . . virtual nobodies (to everyone but God) who lived in a small town.

Question of the Day:  Why do you think God chose small town, non-famous people to be the parents of Jesus Christ?