Luke 2:7 - Lessons From The Manger.
Luke 2:7 (NIV) and she gave birth to her
firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed
him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the inn.
COMMENTARY PEARL
I live in a divided household. My
husband, Hal, always wants a real tree for Christmas.
I am fond of artificial evergreens for their
convenience. After more than twenty years of marriage,
Hal has won the annual tree standoffs.
One recent Christmas, I felt overwhelmed
by responsibilities and expectations. The big
day was a week away, and we didn't have a tree.
I told Hal to forget about finding one. We
didn't need it. Hal thought otherwise and said,
"I'll get us a tree."
A few days later, I walked into our
living room and found that Hal had made good on his
promise. There in the corner was a miniature ceramic
Christmas tree sitting on top of some boxes that were
draped with a tablecloth. This homemade display was
wrapped in a single string of colored lights. I
called it our Charlie Brown tree - reminiscent of
the sapling the Peanuts character chose for a
holiday celebration - and it made me smile.
Our humble little tree was special, even
without all the usual flashy lights, ornaments, and
ribbon. It reminded me of Jesus, who also had humble
beginnings. Born in a stable surrounded by animals and
hay, the Savior of the world entered with no
fanfare or bright lights, except for the star that
guided the wise men to the manger.
I hope our Charlie Brown tree will be a
new tradition, reminding me to focus more on
Jesus and less on the holiday hoopla. Barbranda
Lumpkins Walls
Faith Step: What can you decrease so that
Jesus will increase in your life this holiday
season? See Link for Further Study below on this
one. [Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Do You Have Room for Jesus?
Its easy for us to vilify the
innkeeper who turned away Mary and Joseph when they
arrived in Bethlehem. After all, we wonder how his
heart could be so cold. But I think, in many ways,
this innkeeper was like a lot of people today.
Its not so much that he was evil; he
was just busy. He was preoccupied. More
specifically, he was interested in making money. A lot of
people were in town, and there was a lot of money
to be made. He didnt want to waste his time
with a young couple that obviously was very
impoverished and had nothing to offer him.
Im sure if they would have pulled out
some major shekels, he could have found a nice
place for them. But they didnt have that. So he
essentially said, You can go back there in the barn
and sleep.
We dont know whether it was a barn or
a cave. Back then, they often would keep their
animals in a cave. The word in the original language
doesnt seem to give us clarity here. However, we do
know that it was a place where people kept their
animals.
The basic problem with the innkeeper was
that he didnt have time. There are a lot of
people like him today. They dont have time for
God. They dont have time for church.
But youll always find time for
whats important in your life. If you want to do
something, youll do it. And if you dont want to
do something, youll make up excuses.
Is there room in your heart for Jesus
right now? Would you make room for Him in the
coming year? Would you make room for Him by carving
out time each day to study the Word of God?
Would you make room for Jesus by praying? Would
you make room for Jesus with your involvement in
the church?
Is there room in your life today for
Jesus? [By Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
Missed Opportunity
Had Mary and Joseph been Queen Mary and
King Joseph, the innkeeper would have responded
differently. But no trumpet sounded. No herald
proclaimed. No courier announced their arrival.
There was only a knock
A knock at the door ...
by a common couple ...
at a late hour ...
when the inn was crowded.
So the innkeeper missed the opportunity.
Many still do. They miss the chance to
open the door. They let the birth of Jesus pass
them by. The miracle of Bethlehem still happens.
God enters the hamlets of our lives and speaks
to us. He speaks through scriptures, sunsets,
or the kindness of a friend. He sings to us
through Christmas carols. He calls to us through
Christmas sermons. He reaches out through the
Christmas story.
"Here I am!" Jesus invites. "I stand at
the door and knock" (Revelation 3:20 NCV). Will
you let him in? [You Can Count On God by Max
Lucado]
CLOSING THOUGHT
The other morning, I went down into the
garage where my three teenage boys play video
games. The floor was littered with soda cans and
empty popcorn bags. Napkins and old socks peeked
out from under the couch cushions where they
sit. When I looked behind the couch, I needed a
moment. The volume of trash crammed in between it
and the wall was breathtaking. I thought, I need
go no farther. I called to them, "Boys! Come
clean up!" The clutter was disheartening. I didn't
want to get my hands dirty. I wanted the boys to
clean up their own mess.
Jesus took the opposite approach when He
came to earth on that holy Christmas night so
long ago. Instead of picking a pristine palace or
a comfortable home to make His appearance, He
chose a smelly stable. Surrounded by animals and
nestled in a bed of hay, the Son of God made Himself
known. He also made His heart known. He is not
afraid of our mess. In fact, He knows that He is
the only One Who can clean up our hearts, minds,
and situations. Try though we might, we always
come up short when it comes to cleaning ourselves
up. But Jesus - Emmanuel, God with us - is here,
and He's willing and able to create order out of
chaos, wrapping us in His righteousness and
cleansing us from all sin. Susanna Foth Aughtmon
Faith Step: Today as you tidy your house,
recognize how Jesus has entered the mess of your life
willingly and know He is not put off by it. His heart
is for you. He has come to make you whole.
[Mornings With Jesus 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
John 3:30 - Jesus Must Increase and I Must
Decrease.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200307-1301.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
