December 18, 2011

The Meaning of the Manger

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! :)






2 comments:

  1. Hello dear friend,

    This is so well written, deep and clearly Holy Spirit inspired. Amen.

    God bless you friend, and your Christmas, as you celebrate the birth of Jesus.

    With love and hugs~ Michele

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such a beautiful message from a beautiful woman of God. It's been too long since I last visited your blog. And of course, I've been blessed by my visit by you. I hope all is going well at school. I know that you are on break; me too. :)

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment! It's such a joy to my heart! "Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above..." You are a gift to my heart! To God be the glory! :o)