Faith Journey (Lu 2:8-20)

Today's reading was Luke chapter 2.

There are three stages in the shepherds' faith journey.

1. Invasion (2:8-14). The shepherds didn't ask for the angel or heavenly host to come with a joyful messsage. They didn't ask but God couldn't wait. God's breaking into your settled routine -- that's grace. God's sending a message you didn't ask for -- that's grace. (Thank God for His grace invasion in your life.)
2. Curiosity (2:15-19). The shepherds wanted to see more, know more. They wondered, "Was the angel's message true? Was it too good to be true?" Their curiosity prompted them to move, to take steps in the right direction. Invasion is not enough. It must, to become fully effective for you, lead to investigation. Invasion is God's move toward you. Investigation is your move toward God. (In your relationship with God right now, whose move is it? Will you act or will you just think?)
3. Joy (2:20). What a "surprise": it happened just as the angel said. The sign was accurate. The information was true. Invasion alone won't produce lasting joy. Fear, yes, but not lasting joy. Only those whose investigation results in obedience will experience joy. The deeper the investigation and obedience, the greater the joy. There's something private about this joy (what they had heard from the angel and heavenly host) and something public (testimony).

This cycle is true for those on their way to salvation. It is also true for believers during each step of their journey. Faith-journeying with Jesus is a lifelong sequence of the invasion-investigation-joy triad.