MORE ABOUT SHEEP (continued)

“The shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger”
(Luke 2:15-16).

Jesus Wants His Sheep around Him

After the amazing experience of seeing the multitude of angels praising God, the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem and see the Savior who had been born! “Let’s go!” they cried. Did they go alone? Oh no! The shepherds would not have left the sheep, vulnerable and alone, to be attacked by animals. In the Middle East the sheep always follow the shepherd as he leads them. They are inseparable. This is a true picture of Christ, the Good Shepherd, and we who are His sheep.

Nativity scenes often show one or two sheep, but there would actually have been many sheep around Jesus. Remember, it wasn’t only one shepherd, but a number of shepherds, each with their own flock. The sweet little DVD, The Very First Noel portrays the sheep following along after the shepherds as they go to find the Lamb of God. (It’s worth seeing).

As the sheep and the lambs surrounded the Lamb of God at His birth, so He still wants His sheep around Him. He loves His sheep. He wants them to be close enough to Him in order to hear His voice as He speaks to them.

Shepherds Lead their Sheep

Just as the Bethlehem shepherds led their sheep to Jesus, so as a mother shepherdess, we should also lead our flock to Jesus. This is the big question?

Am I leading my flock to Jesus?

Am I leading my children to Jesus by His character which they see in me? Am I truly showing them the way? Am I leading them to the Jesus of the Bible, rather than a Jesus of my own imagination?

God is Looking for Father and Mother Hearts

God wants mothers and fathers to have shepherd hearts. It is interesting that God chose a carpenter to be the earthly father of His son. Like the shepherds, carpenters were not on the highest rung of the career ladder. Joseph was a humble man, but the Bible says he was “righteous.” He also had a father’s heart. God would not have put His son into a family of a man who did not have a father’s heart. God was more interested in this quality than his profession. Now, in our 21st century, God is still looking for father hearts to father His sheep and lambs. This is more important to God than a high-powered career.

In fact, every aspect of Jesus’ birth was bathed in humility—his earthly parents, the place of His birth and his dedication where Joseph and Mary brought turtle doves because they could not afford a lamb. In the birth of Jesus, God revealed to us His true character. Although He is the God of the universe, King of kings and Lord of lords, He is not afraid to come to the lowest place to associate with and meet the needs of His created ones. Read Psalm 68:4-6; 107:41 and 113:4-9.

May this same spirit of humility be upon us at this season.

Gather the sheep and your lambs and lead them to Jesus. Gather them close around you and snuggle in close to your Shepherd.

Love from NANCY CAMPBEL
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Great Shepherd of the sheep, please teach me how to be a true shepherd of the little flock you have given me. Help me to lead my flock to you. Help me to show them the way, and please help me to be true watchmen over them. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

 I’m a shepherd to my flock and a sheep to my Shepherd

Dear Above Rubies readers,

I am going to send you out a few thoughts about the birth of Jesus each day until Christmas. I pray you will be very blessed. If you don’t have time to read them each day, print them off so you can take time to ponder them over the Christmas period, or even read them to the whole family. I know that you, all your family, and friends too, will be blessed as you share them.

Much love, Nancy

WHAT FILLS YOUR HEART THIS CHRISTMAS? 

“Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). 

What do you think of at Christmas? To many people Christmas is coming home from shopping with a car filled with gifts, homes filled with decorations, tables filled with food and stockings filled with things we will never use. We are filled to over the top.

Does this picture relate to the story we read of Jesus’ birth in the New Testament? Yes, the birth of Jesus is a time of filling, but a different kind of filling. It is the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Nearly everyone associated with the birth of Jesus was filled and empowered with the Holy Ghost. Let’s have a look…

The birth of John the Baptist

The angel came to Zacharias and told him that he would have a son who would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. He said in Luke 1:15-17, “He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost,even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.”

God was true to His word and Elisabeth, Zacharias’ wife conceived. Mary came to visit her during her pregnancy and the moment Mary greeted Elisabeth, “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Luke 1:41)

John was born with great joy. At his circumcision, when Zacharias announced his name would be called John, “Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied” (Luke 1:67).

The birth of Jesus

Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35 says, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God.” Read also Matthew 1:18, 20.

After Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary took him to the temple to be dedicated. At the temple was a man named Simeon who was filled with the Holy Ghost. Luke 2:25-28 tells us more about him. He was “just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus… then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God…”

Simeon walked and lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. He listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Because he was in tune with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit was able to reveal to him about Jesus and He led him, by the Spirit, into the temple at the very right moment that Joseph and Mary brought Jesus. As Simeon held Jesus in his arms, he also prophesied by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 2:34-35)

Anna, a widow of 84 years, who “served God with fastings and prayers night and day” also prophesied by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 2:37-38)

The challenge is: what are we going to be filled with this Christmas? It should be a time to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Imagine what could happen if we spent as much, or more time, seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit as rushing around buying gifts and preparing for Christmas. Imagine if we took time to listen to the Holy Spirit. What would we learn?What would He say to us? What difference would it make in our lives and in our homes? Imagine if we asked the Holy Spirit to lead us instead of doing our own agenda. How would He direct us? Who would He lead us to speak to? What kind of Christmas would we organize?

Don’t you think it would be exciting? The birth of Jesus was not ordinary. It was supernatural. Everything that happened was miraculous. People were filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit.

Why don’t we put aside our own agenda for a moment and ask the Holy Spirit what He wants us to do. Let Him direct us and lead us at this Christmas time. Can we let the Lord fill us with His Holy Spirit and fill our homes with His Spirit? Oh what a difference!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL 

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I ask that you will lead me by your Holy Spirit. I want to hear your voice speaking to me. Please direct me the way you want me to go. Fill my life with your Holy Spirit. Fill our home with your Holy Spirit. May the anointing of the Holy Spirit be preeminent in all our lives this Christmas.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am listening to be led by the power of the Holy Spirit.

WALK IN THE LIGHT—
From the dawn into the full sunlight!

“Come and let us walk in the light of the Lord”
(Isaiah 2:5).

Blessed Hanukkah season to those who love to celebrate Hanukkah!

This evening is the beginning of Hanukkah, which is known in the New Testament as the Feast of Dedication. Hanukkah is not one of the feasts of the Lord, but was instituted during the time of the Maccabees who won the victory over the Syrian Greeks and re-occupied the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC. The Talmud records the story that when they captured the Temple, they only had one day’s supply of oil, but the oil miraculously burned for eight days until fresh oil could be obtained. It is also called the Festival of Lights and is celebrated by lighting the eight-branched menorah for eight days. John 10:22-23 records that Jesus also celebrated this feast.

Because Hanukkah speaks of light, I thought I would share with you a few thoughts about light. God is light and He wants us to walk in His light.

Created

We were created to walk in light. The light God wants us to walk in is the Hebrew word “or” and it means “illumination, brightness, daylight, sunlight.”

Called

We have been called into light. 1 Peter 2:9 admonishes us to “show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous (amazing and wonderful) light.”

When we are born again into the kingdom of God, we are translated out of the kingdom of darkness into a kingdom of wonderful light. The darkness flees. Deception disintegrates. We leave the path of destruction behind to pursue a life of light. The light is amazing. But although it is such a contrast from the darkness we have lived in, we do not always experience the fullness of His light immediately. We come out of darkness into the light of dawn.

Oh how I love the dawn. I love to look out of the window each morning and watch the dawn appearing. I can go to bed tired but wake up refreshed at the light of dawn. I can go to bed with a sore throat and wake up healed at the light of dawn. The dawn awakens the excitement of a new day and all its possibilities. It reminds us of God’s faithfulness that day and night will not cease. But the dawn is not the full light. There is more. It lightens more and more as the hours go by.

In the same way, we should experience more and more of God’s light. Our Christian life is to be a “more and more” walk.As we seek after God, He continues to expose more deceptions and dark places in our lives. As we repent of them and continue seeking, He leads us into more light. As we live in His Word, He pours more and more of the light of His truth into our darkened minds. Little by little, we walk more and more in the light of the Lord until it is like the midday sun.

I have always loved Proverbs 4:18 RSV which says, “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”

David confessed, “That I might live, ever mindful of God, in the sunshine of life.” (Psalm 56:13, Moffat) Isn’t that wonderful? Don’t be content to live in the light of the dawn, as wonderful as that is. There is more! Live in the full midday sun of God’s marvelous light.

Commissioned

We have also been commissioned to shine our light. Jesus is the light of the world and amazingly He tells us that we also are the light of the world. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

May we live “more and more” in the light of God and shining this light to those around us.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Oh God, I thank you that I was destined to live in light. Please expose every bit of darkness in my life so that I can walk in the fullness of your marvelous light. Help me to walk in the light with my husband, my family and my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to shine my light to all I meet today. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am a light-shiner to the world because the Light of the world lives in me!

GOD LOVES SHEEP—THAT MEANS YOU!

“And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were sore afraid. And the angel of the Lord said unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you are born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 8-11).

Today’s thoughts are not from me, but from my sister, Kate. Kate and I are both familiar with sheep. Our father, Ivan Bowen who passed away a couple of years ago, designed the way shearing is done across the world and he was the fastest shearer in the world in his prime. Kate also shepherded a flock of sheep when she lived up in the Caribou of Canada. She has a special love for sheep. I know you will be blessed by her thoughts.

God Chooses the Poor and Despised!

The Palestinian shepherds in Bible days were despised by society. They were not allowed to give testimony in a court of law as they were considered unreliable. Doesn’t it astonish you that God chose the despised members of society, those with unreliable testimony, to be witnesses of the most important message of all time? He entrusted them with a message that was foretold by prophets hundreds of years before and would change the course of history. If it was me, I would make sure this message was given to the most influential, reliable men of the nation to ensure it was accurately broadcast world-wide. Yet, how God is this! His ways are greater than our ways (Isaiah 55:8).

I believe these ancient shepherds were good shepherds. I was a shepherdess in Northern British Columbia, Canada for a time, and as I worked with the flock, I experienced something of the heart of the shepherd. The sheep pulled at my heartstrings. I believe these shepherds would have had tender hearts.

They would also have been physically tough as they braved the elements. They were watchmen, always on the lookout for predators, or the enemy that would attack the flock. Remember how David contended with the lion and the bear? In fact, a shepherd never rests until the entire flock is safe in the fold, especially at night. “There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold, but one was out on the hills away, far from the gates of the fold…” This old hymn speaks of the shepherd going out to look for the one astray. I had to do this many times in my shepherding days.

These ancient shepherds were courageous, too, willing to lay down their lives for the sheep. And, ultimately, they were a living illustration of the Great Shepherd of the Sheep. God saw beyond what society perceived these shepherds to be, and saw their tender, courageous hearts.

God Chooses the Sheep!

Not only were the shepherds there when the angels appeared, but who else? The sheep! The shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night. As we fast forward two thousand years later, we peer back into this divine hallowed moment in history and see ourselves represented through the sheep. Again, how God is this! He does not make mistakes. What does God liken us to in the Bible? Sheep! It is one of the recurring themes throughout Scripture--the shepherd and his sheep. On looking through one of my daughter’s Bible story books, this same passage was illustrated with bright lights beaming on the shepherds. But, I was fascinated to see that the illustrator had perceptively drawn the cute little sheep with their heads looking up at this glorious light also!

All we like sheep! They go astray, wandering off unaware of the dangers from under the shepherd’s care. They get dirty. They’re stubborn, often stupid--although not dumb as is the popular belief. They’re vulnerable and need constant attention. In fact, the flock cannot survive without the shepherd. Sound familiar! In spite of this, the sheep are entirely loveable.

Today, as 21st century sheep of His flock, we are witnesses to and of this amazing proclamation that the savior of the world is born and has come. In the business of this season, let us remind ourselves that we carry this great proclamation wherever we go–in our homes, into the city streets, into the stores, on the road, as we go out and come in. Whatever we are doing, this proclamation is with us. And remember, it is backed by a multitudinous heavenly choir! It is the message of hope in these troubled times.

Truly He is the king, worthy of proclamation!

KATE MARCHINIAK, NANCY’S SISTER.
www.aboverubies.org