December Devotions and Doodles – Day 14 (December 14)
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-20
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors!
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
December 14 Devotional: Glory to God
This is a passage that is read really often at Christmastime. This time, I was very aware of when the words “glory” and “glorify” were used.
Definition of Glory
The definition of “glory” is “magnificence or great beauty.” The first time “glory” is used here is in verse 9.
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
A Not-So-Ordinary Night
Imagine that you are just at a normal day/night at work. The shepherds are doing what they do every night. Nothing out of the ordinary. The hours of watching their flocks in the quiet and stillness of a night in the hill country, stretched on. The shepherds are probably bored and sleepy.
Suddenly, the night takes a turn toward the unexpected. An angel appears before them. They were probably wondering if they had fallen asleep and were dreaming at first, but then it says that the “glory of the Lord shone around them.”
The magnificence and great beauty of God Himself is shining around the shepherds. Wow! What a night!
A Glorious Choir
The angel tells them about the birth of the Messiah – the long-awaited anointed One. Then, the sky is filled with angels who are praising God. The word they use is “glory”! “Glory to God in the highest!” All magnificence and beauty – all recognition for that outstanding magnificence and great beauty be given to the One True God!
Driven to Action
The shepherds don’t just stand around and marvel at what they have just seen and heard. They are motivated to take action. They immediately leave the field and go to see the Messiah that the angel has told them about. And it was exactly like the angels had told them!
Evangelists and Witnesses
The shepherds become the first real evangelists and witnesses – when they leave Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, they tell everyone they see about what has happened. They go out “glorifying” God – telling everyone about the magnificence and great beauty of God. Praising Him and worshiping Him for His amazing plan.
December 14 – Action Step:
Today (December 14), as we experience the Christmas story this season, let us revel in the magnificence and great beauty of God and His plan. Let’s give Him all the glory during this holiday and beyond!
Follow the shepherds lead – Take a praise break with the angels today and spend a few minutes worshiping the One True God and thanking Jesus for coming in such a humble way for us!
Prayer:
Dear God, we glorify You today! We celebrate your magnificence and great beauty! Open our eyes to see the glory of Your plan for salvation through Your Son during the season of His birth. Draw our hearts closer to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Drawing Tutorial – December 14: How to Draw a Shepherd Scene
Today, we are going to put together some elements that we have already learned into a drawing of the shepherd scene from this passage. I also have a tutorial for drawing a different type of angel, one in flight.
Use the sheep we learned to draw on Day 2 and the angel we drew on Day 5 (or the one below) and the Joseph drawing for a shepherd from Day 12 to create this Shepherd Scene.
- Start with the robe, two downward curving lines that are fairly parallel but closer together at the top. Leave them open at the top and connect the bottom with a straight line.
- Draw an oval for the head that is open on the top, then add curly hair.
- Add wings by drawing the tops of the wings perpendicular to the robe, curving over the top, and connect back to the robe on the bottom side of the wing with a deep curvy line.
- Finish by adding simple arms and legs and a smiling face. 🙂
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