[It has been =
the Griffin family tradition to read the Christmas Story from Luke 2 =
before opening gifts on Christmas morning. In 1970, in our first =
Christmas as husband and wife, we sat in a quiet apartment and read. In =
2022, we sit in the quiet of our retirement home and read. We =
invite you to read with us from the English Standard Version translation =
of God’s inspired Word]
In those =
days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the =
world should be registered. [This was the =
first registration before Quirinius was governor of =
Syria.] And all went to be registered, each to his own =
town.
And Joseph =
also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea, =
to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because =
he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with =
Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they =
were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth =
to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths =
and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them =
in the inn.
And in the =
same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over =
their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to =
them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were =
filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear =
not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for =
all the people. For unto you is born this day in the =
city of David a Savior, who is Christ the =
Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a =
baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a =
manger.”
And suddenly =
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising =
God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and =
on earth peace, good will among men!” =
When the =
angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one =
another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has =
happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went =
with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a =
manger.
And when they =
saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning =
this child. All who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told =
them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them =
in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and =
praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told =
them.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] www.grif.net =
"Jesus =
Knows Me, This I Love!"