Over the past week, I started to set up my Nativity sets in my home. I have little ones and larger ones; some are wood and some are made of porcelain. My favorite part of putting up the Nativity sets is placing the Baby Jesus in the mangers. I get a big lump in my throat each and every time I place Him in the manger. Why? Because that’s the “real” Christmas!
“And she gave birth to her first born, a Son, and she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7, NIV)
As a child, my mom always set up a tiny Nativity set in my room on my dresser. One year, I wanted to help put the Nativity set up in my room. After begging to put the Baby Jesus in the manger, my mom reluctantly handed Jesus to me. So I stood up on my tippy-toes and reached for the manger. At that moment, Jesus fell out of my little hand and hit the hardwood floor. His head went one way and His body the other! I “broke” Jesus! As I started to cry, my mom discovered another miracle that Christmas -- the gift of super-glue! She quickly glued Him back together and then glued Him into the manger so he wouldn’t fall out.
Sometimes we need to get a little closer to the manger so that we don’t miss the greatest Gift given to us – the Baby Jesus. And, just like children, we need to get on our tippy-toes, and with an air of expectancy, look at the baby in the manger. Have you ever noticed how children delight in going up to the manger and not only looking at the Baby Jesus, but they also try to touch Him too? They instinctively reach out to Him; they don’t hold back!
The closer we can get to the manger, the more we are able to see the miracle! It’s so easy to miss the Christmas miracle because it comes around every year. But think about this for a minute: the God of the Universe came into the world as a helpless baby. How in the world do you fit God into a baby? It’s like trying to fit the ocean into a thimble! There is only one word that describes why God did this for us and that word is LOVE!
Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us.” He came for you and for me out of love. The glory of God came into this world at Christmas! That’s what’s in the manger! So this year, don’t miss the “real” Christmas! If you seek Jesus and reach out to Him, even on your “tippy-toes,” He will reveal Himself to you and He will give you the most amazing “gift” this Christmas--His unrelenting love!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Carol
1 comment:
Pastor Carol,
This is a beautiful reminder to always come to God with the heart of a child; to never lose the wonder and excitement of who He is what He has done. Thank you.
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