24 Dec 2024, Tuesday
24 Dec 2024, Tuesday
Prioritized Daily Task
Note: The personal nature of the Lord’s ministry as the Master Shepherd should be the pattern for all who shepherd the flocks of Israel. The depth of His love, His willingness to give freely of Himself, His undeviating loyalty and devotion to the cause shared so completely with His Father, and His constant attention to the needs of the one stand as hallmarks of the true shepherd’s calling.
Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us has remained with me for these many years.
An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Savior’s day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king’s vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king’s vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, “But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do.”
Startled, I asked him why. And he added, “Because of the love he has for each of his sheep.” It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was informed, “Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.”
It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch on his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco. By Elder John R. Lasater Of the First Quorum of the Seventy at General Conference April 1988
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According to some sources, Hebrew priests wrapped lambs in swaddling clothes to protect newborn lambs from injuring themselves and becoming blemished and to keep the lambs clean and spotless. The lambs were designated for sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem for the sins of the people.
Luke 2:9-12, Levitical shepherds found a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.
In the Jewish book of Wisdom (c. 1st century BCE), King Solomon describes his earliest days, saying, “I was nursed with care in swaddling clothes (σπαργάνοις; spargánois). For no king has a different beginning of existence” (Wis 7:4-5). Luke notes that Yeshua is wrapped in swaddling clothes, just like Solomon, to show that this infant is a king in the line of David.
The Lukan angel’s rhetoric supports this connection between Jesus and Solomon:
“To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes” (Lk 2:11-12).
n÷∆The swaddling clothes constitute a sign of Jewish royalty and an affirmation of Jesus’ identity as the Davidic king of the Jewish people.
I slept in and had an excellent night's sleep with 40 minutes of core sleep. I had my personal prayer, showered, and shaved. De bbie sent me a picture of George, Graceson, his mother, grandmother, and s house. I tried calling Beth and Rae Lynn; the call went to voice mail. Michael and Autumn got to Matt and Melodie's. They brought Alex, Carter, Gavin, Blake, Gracie, and Gavin's friend. The Christmas movie, "Red One" playing in the movie theathers was playing on the TV. I had seen in a couple of time but did not know Alex was an extra in the movie. I took a picture of Alex on the TV and her standing in front of the TV. We talked and I opened presents Michael, Autumn, and Beth gave me and Debbie. They all left and went to Denny's for dinner. They had on their PJs, pajamas, and plan to have a meal, visit with those working on Christmas Eve away from their family, and leave them a. large tip, thanking them for working tonight and being away from their families. Before they left I got Carter and Alex off to the side and gave them a $100 bill for them to give to the waiters and cook because I will not be there and I love the idea and want to be part of it. When they left everyone opened a present, it was pajamas, tops and bottoms. We put them on and took pictures. Everyone liked Michael and Autumn's idea so much we decided to do the same. It took 3 resturants before we found a Denny's still open. We rode in two vehicles, Melodie drove one and Matthew drove the other. Vickie, Madeline, Bella, and Ava rode with Melodie. Our waitress, Joanne, told us there was only 3 people working tonight, her, another waitress, and the cook. They were bussy but we had nice service and the food was good. Joanne has a family waiting for her at home when she gets off in about an hour. Before we left the cook was bussing tables so they could get home. I tipped them $300 and Matthew tipped another ''$20. Our meal was $157. I did not share with anyone what was tipped. When Matthew and I got home Vickie was leaving to go to her home. I had family prayer with Matthew, Melodie, Madeline, Bella, and Ava. The girls went to bed and Matthew and Melodie wrapped more Chrismas presents. Matthew and I watched part of a movie and I had prayer before going to bed at 1 AM.
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