Month: September 2026

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 2:22-23

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; ²³ (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Presenting Our Most Precious Gifts: A Reflection on Luke 2:22-23

When we hold a child in our arms, we are holding a miracle. In those quiet moments, the weight of responsibility settles in alongside an overwhelming amount of love. How do we guide this little life in a world full of twists and turns?

Scripture provides a beautiful blueprint in the Gospel of Luke.

The Standard of Faithfulness

In Luke 2:22-23, we catch a glimpse of Joseph and Mary navigating early parenthood:

“When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of Moses, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’).”

Before Jesus performed miracles, before He taught crowds, and before He walked the road to Calvary, His parents walked up the steps of the temple. They were faithful to the law, but more importantly, they were faithful to the heart of God. They recognized that this child—though entrusted to their care—belonged first and foremost to the Father.

The Heart of Dedication

To “present Him to the Lord” was an act of holy surrender. It was a declaration that Jesus was consecrated, set apart for God’s divine purposes.

As parents, guardians, and mentors today, we are called to the very same posture of heart. Dedicating a child to God is not merely a beautiful church tradition or a moment for a family photo. It is a profound, lifelong commitment.

• Surrendering Control: We acknowledge that our children belong to God. He knew them before they were formed in the womb, and His plans for them are far greater than our own dreams.
• Intentional Parenting: Dedication means committing to raise children in a environment that honors Christ. It is teaching them to love the Word, modeling grace in the home, and guiding their steps toward the cross.
• Continual Intercession: Our prayers shouldn’t just be for their physical safety or future success. Our deepest prayers should be for their hearts. We must pray continually that from the beginning to the end of their lives, they will choose to follow Christ and find joy in fulfilling His plans.

Raising children to honor God is a daily choice. It happens in the quiet conversations before bed, in the way we handle conflicts, and in the consistency of our own faith walk. When we present them to the Lord, we trust that the One who started a good work in them will be faithful to complete it.

A Closing Prayer for Our Children

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the incredible gift of the children You have placed in our lives. They are arrows in our hands, and we acknowledge that they belong entirely to You. Today, we choose to present them back to You, surrendering our control and trusting in Your perfect love for them.

Give us the wisdom, patience, and strength to raise them in a way that honors Your name. Guard their hearts and minds as they grow. We pray urgently that from the very beginning of their days to the end, they will commit their lives to Jesus Christ. May they be fiercely devoted to You, bold in their faith, and aligned with Your divine plans.

When we feel weak, be our strength. When we lack wisdom, guide our steps. We place our families into Your hands, trusting that Your grace is always enough.

In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that genuinely encourage your faith walk.

Bible Study Tools I Use

• NIV Bible
• King James Bible
• www. biblegateway.com
• www.biblestudytools.com
• Map Pencils
• College Ruled Spiral Notebook
• Ballpoint Pens
• Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. THEY SPREAD THE WORD / LUKE 2:17-18
2. A SAVIOR … CHRIST THE LORD / LUKE 2:11
3. THE NATIONS YOUR INHERITANCE / PSALMS 2:8
4. A MANGER / LUKE 2:6-7
5. HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS / LUKE 1:68-75
6. GOD MY SAVIOR / LUKE 1:46-47
7. AS YOU HAVE SAID / LUKE 1:38
8. THE HOLY ONE / LUKE 1:34-35
9. HIS FATHER DAVID / LUKE 1:32-33
10. YOU WHO ARE HIGHLY FAVORED / LUKE 1:28
11. PLEDGED TO BE MARRIED / LUKE 1:26-27
12. SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIJAH – THE FATHERS OF THEIR CLILDREN / LUKE 1:17
13. FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – WINE FERMENTED DRINK / LUKE 1:15
14. DIVISION OF ABIJAH DESCENDANT OF AARON / LUKE 1:5
15. THEOPHILUS / LUKE 1:1-4
16. Crews N Away: Anchored in Grace

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 2:17-18

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

They Spread the Word: Unashamed Sharing from the Margins

When we picture the grandest, most history-altering announcements, we usually imagine press conferences, royal decrees, or global media broadcasts. We expect the news to break among the culturally elite, the intellectually brilliant, or the politically powerful.

But God’s ways are completely counter-cultural.

When the Messiah stepped into human history, His birth was not first announced to royalty, high-society influencers, or the religious aristocracy. Instead, the first birth announcement of King Jesus was delivered to a group of midnight shift workers: the shepherds.

Choosing the Common and the Preoccupied

Why did God bypass the palaces of Jerusalem for a dark hillside in Bethlehem?

History shows us that the elite were simply too preoccupied. The cultural and political authorities of the day were tightly gripped by their own agendas. Intellectuals would have analyzed and doubted the news with deep skepticism. Earthly rulers, like King Herod, were far too insecure, viewing any new “king” as a direct threat to their own position and power.

The shepherds, however, had nothing to lose and everything to gain. They were common, everyday people. They were exactly the kind of humble hearts ready to receive Jesus’ message with authentic enthusiasm and raw wonder.

The Response: From Hearing to Sharing

The shepherds didn’t just listen to the angelic choir and go back to business as usual. They actively responded to the heavenly message by going directly to Bethlehem to see what they had been told about.

And what happened next changed everything:

“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” — Luke 2:17

Once these common laborers encountered the Savior of the world face-to-face, they could not keep it to themselves. They didn’t wait for permission. They didn’t wait to get a theology degree, and they didn’t wait for social approval. They spread the good news about Jesus without an ounce of shame or hesitation.

Becoming Modern-Day Shepherds

The story of the shepherds challenges us today. Are we too preoccupied with our own status, comfort, or intellectual skepticism to marvel at Jesus? Or are we willing to approach Him with the simple, eager faith of the shepherds?

Encountering Jesus naturally compels us to talk about Him. We don’t need a massive platform or high social status to be a witness for Christ. We just need a willing heart to tell others what we have seen and heard.

Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, into our world not with worldly pomp, but with humble grace. Thank You for choosing the common, the forgotten, and the ordinary to be the first witnesses of Your greatest miracle.

Forgive us for the times we let the preoccupations of this life, our pride, or the fear of what others think keep us from seeking You. Quiet our skeptical minds and fill our hearts with the raw wonder that those shepherds felt on that hillside so long ago.

Lord, grant us the holy boldness of the shepherds. Give us the courage to spread the good news of Jesus without shame or hesitation. Let our lives and our words point others directly to the Savior.

In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that genuinely encourage your faith walk.

Bible Study Tools I Use

• NIV Bible
• King James Bible
• www. biblegateway.com
• www.biblestudytools.com
• Map Pencils
• College Ruled Spiral Notebook
• Ballpoint Pens
• Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. A SAVIOR … CHRIST THE LORD / LUKE 2:11
2. THE NATIONS YOUR INHERITANCE / PSALMS 2:8
3. A MANGER / LUKE 2:6-7
4. HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS / LUKE 1:68-75
5. GOD MY SAVIOR / LUKE 1:46-47
6. AS YOU HAVE SAID / LUKE 1:38
7. THE HOLY ONE / LUKE 1:34-35
8. HIS FATHER DAVID / LUKE 1:32-33
9. YOU WHO ARE HIGHLY FAVORED / LUKE 1:28
10. PLEDGED TO BE MARRIED / LUKE 1:26-27
11. SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIJAH – THE FATHERS OF THEIR CLILDREN / LUKE 1:17
12. FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – WINE FERMENTED DRINK / LUKE 1:15
13. DIVISION OF ABIJAH DESCENDANT OF AARON / LUKE 1:5
14. THEOPHILUS / LUKE 1:1-4
15. Crews N Away: Anchored in Grace

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace