LEARNING DAILY

Luke 2:7, And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

There are several thoughts I want you to consider regarding the humble story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The Son of God was laid in what is thought to have been a trough carved out of stone that animals ate out of. It was in a place that was a cave like stable that I assume had animal dung on the floor and smelled because of it. In the time for Mary to give birth, her bed was made from straw. That is very humbling circumstances for the Son of God to be born in to.

Humility and simplicity that Jesus Christ was born in, describes His entire life, though He also had divine status. God chose an interesting way for His Son to come into this world; it was a way to teach Believers to walk the narrow way in humility, compassion, and to serve others. Being born in a stable and being laid in a trough is a reminder that greatness and being used by God can happen in unexpected and humble places. That means that greatness and influence do not have to come from outward appearances of wealth and status; true power and influence come from within as one walks with Jesus. Pastor Ed Newton always includes in his invitation for people to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior the words, “change me.” Accepting Christ as one’s Savior is the first step. The rest of the Believer’s life is walking a narrow way in faith, trust, and obedience to Him. As Believer’s walk with Him, the Holy Spirit begins to change them to be like Jesus in how they act, talk, and think. “No one, no matter how poor or how rich, has difficulty accessing a stable. What access is behind those beautiful and welcoming words: ‘She … laid Him in a manger’” (CS Hawkins).

The second thought about this verse is Jesus is the central figure of the Christmas story. We have a beautiful nativity set. In the past, we have had a shelter to represent the stable and set Mary, Joseph, and the trough with Jesus in it. It was also big enough for the animals we had. We have also placed the “manger” with the baby in the middle of the scene – right where He needed to be. Consider this. If you took Mary, Joseph, the animals, the shepherds, and the wisemen out of the nativity, you would still have the baby Jesus, the Son of God at the very center of the scene, the Christmas story.

 At the center of the nativity is a worship service. Mary and Joseph must have been in awe of all of this. The shepherds came to rejoice in what the angel had proclaimed to them. And the wisemen eventually got there to worship the “King of the Jews.” Believers need to make Jesus the center of Christmas and worship Him. Christmas is not about anything else – just Jesus! I pray you keep Him in the middle of Christmas this year!