THOUGHTS, December 15, 2020, I Thessalonians 1:9

"For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God..."

Adam Clarke says, "'How ye turned to God from idols.'  This could not be spoken either of the Jews or of the devout persons, but of the heathen Greeks; and of such it appears that the majority of the church was formed."

My husband used to say something like, be careful who you think is far from the kingdom of God because you never know who God is talking to.  This was certainly true of the Jewish leaders who were religious snobs.  The whole Nativity had them in complete disarray.  That is perhaps why God sent the message from the angels to shepherds first, shepherds who were on the bottom of the Jewish societal order, shepherds who were regarded as dirty liars and thieves so that they were not even allowed in the Temple.  Thus, God sent them to the familiarity of a stable, to a babe in the manger.  

"What kind of reception we had with you." Certainly, Joseph and Mary did not have a welcoming reception in Bethlehem, Mary whose labor was probably brought on by her travel upon the back of a donkey.  Certainly shepherds were welcome in a stable, but to see a babe in a manger?  There and then these lowly shepherds knelt in the hay to serve a living and true God.  

As I have made mention of many times before, I love the beginning verses in I John 1:1-4, and think of these words in context of the reception of this Christ Child come to earth as witnessed by shepherds: "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we behold and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life--and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And these things we write, so that our joy may be complete."

                                             What reception have we given to our Lord?

"Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown, When Thou camest to earth for me; But in Bethlehem's home there was found no room For Thy holy Nativity.  O come to my heart, Lord Jesus; There is room in my heart for Thee. 

Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang, Proclaiming Thy royal degree; But in lowly birth didst Thou come to earth, And in great humility...

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest In the shade of the forest tree; But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God, In the deserts of Galilee...

Thou cam'st, O Lord, with the living word That should set Thy people free; But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn, They bore Thee to Calvary....

When the heavens shall ring and her choir shall sing At Thy coming to victory, Let Thy voice call me home, saying, 'Yet there is room; There is room at My side for thee!  My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, When Thou comest and callest for me.