Prayer for you, drop what you are doing to stand in awe and worship.
Praise God on your journey to Bethlehem.
I have a nativity set that I put out every Christmas. As I take the figurines out of the box, I can’t help but wonder about this odd assemblage of people. What kind of relationship with God did they have to merit such a prominent roll in His story?
First, we’ll take out Baby Jesus. He is after all Savior, Christ and Lord. Place Him in the manger in the stable. Stables, being dark and dirty, remind us of the kind of place the Messiah has come.
Beside Jesus, let’s place Mary, His mother. Although a young girl, when she was told of God’s plan for her life, she responded with faith, obedience, and praise.
As we set out Joseph, Mary’s husband, we remember he was a righteous man. His faith, being stronger than his circumstances, led to instant obedience to what was revealed to him.
In the corner of the stable, I place the shepherds. They were open to God’s message of hope, readily heard the angels’ good news, and immediately responded as they set out to find the Babe.
I set the Magi outside the stable. They were the last to arrive–maybe as late as two years after Jesus’ birth. When they found Jesus, they worshiped and gave Him precious gifts.
This year, I have placed a figurine of a girl in the stable. She represents me. I have to ask myself, how do I respond to God’s interruptions in my life? If my life is connected to Him, I, too, will respond out of faith, obedience, and with praise. Being in partnership with God for His redemption purposes is a precious gift to bring Jesus. “O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
“Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah the Lord.” (Luke 2:11, CSB)
In the name of Jesus, Messiah, the Promised One,
Janet Waters, Brentwood Baptist Church member/Prayer Room Intercessor