And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7
Have you ever wondered at the significance of the Lord being
born in a stable and placed in a manger for His bed? It seems
that if we pause and take a closer look we stand to find that in
His humble beginnings we are given an example to follow.
Once we accept Him as our personal Savior, the Lord is to live in and through us on a daily basis. Just like when He was on this earth and grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with both God and man, we are to allow His life in US to grow as well. Others are to see His life and the characteristics of His life manifested in us each day. How do we do this? Just like John the Baptist said: "He must increase, but I must decrease." We are to go "lower" or humble ourselves.
Is it any wonder that God says for us to "humble ourselves under" His mighty hand, and He "will exalt us in due time." ?? As we humble ourselves and find rest at His feet each morning, He finds "a place to rest" in our hearts. . . just like He did that first Christmas when Mary placed Him in a manger: A feeding trough.
As the life of Christ is nurtured in our hearts by us reading the Word, and humbling ourselves each day, others will see Him in us. The world is hungry and in such a need for the only True Food that satisfies: Jesus Himself! Just like the little animals in a stable who go to a manger to feed, others will be drawn to the Bread of Life that lives within our hearts too. Only Jesus satisfies!
Jesus says, "and I, if I be lifted up...will draw all men unto Myself." John 12:32
May the Lord find a humble place to rest in each of our hearts this Christmas and in the New Year to follow so that others will be drawn unto Him and find the Bread of Life and the Living Water that satisfies the longing in each hungry, lost soul!
I'll try to write an update soon, but I wanted to share a little lesson from the Lord to my heart in the midst of this Christmas season. :)
Merry Christmas to you all!!
Be back soon, Lord willing! :)