The Lamb

I guess I always just figured the Lamb was there because it had come with the Shepherds, I had never really thought about what the Lamb could mean to me. In the Bible Dictionary it states this "Shepherds still, as in old, go before the sheep, and the sheep follow, being...attached to their masters, whose voice the instantly recognize." These sheep follow their Shepherd because he takes care of them. Jesus is often referred to as the Good Shepherd. Are we like the Lamb, do we know Jesus and instantly recognize his voice and follow him. Also it is pointed out that the sheep follow their Shepherd because of the gratitude that they feel to the Shepherd for taking care of them. The Christmas story is all about gratitude in many ways. Emily Freeman points out two verbs that go with gratitude when looked up in a thesaurus "fall to your knees" and "never forget". These two phrases go with following Christ.
She then talks about two people mentioned in Luke 2 (Luke 2:25-38) that never get mentioned but play a big part. Emily Freeman talks about Simeon and Anna. These are stories that I don't know a lot about. Both were very devote people who spent a lot of time serving in the temple and both has wished to see Jesus before they died. Both were prompted to be at the temple the day that Mary and Joseph brought their baby to the temple. From them we can learn to seek Jesus, serve in the temple often, and give gratitude instantly.
 
This year take some time to read some scriptures about the tender mercies of the Lord. Some are 1 Nephi 1:20, 2 Corinthians 1:3, Psalm 145:9, Psalm 119:77, 156, Psalm 69:16, and Ether 6:12. After reading them take time to right down the tender mercies that have been in your life. Then take time to give thanks for the tender mercies in your life.

"The Lamb

reminds us to prepare our hearts to recongnize

the hand of the Lord in our life,

and then, in that instant, to give thanks."

Emily Freeman A Christ Centered Christmas