Messengers Part Four: December 24, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 24

MESSENGERS
PART FOUR

Defined by Webster:
One who bears a message.

It is Christmas Eve and tomorrow we will CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS. For several weeks now we have looked at words and subjects preparing us for this most important day in the life of the Christian. On this Christmas Eve we will look at the Inn and the Manger.


GODS WORD

“And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2: 16-19.

WORDS BY KEN AND DOTTIE

Have you ever noticed that when a child passes a nativity scene they will almost all without exception either stop or want to stop and see the baby Jesus? We have often heard the question asked --- why is the baby in a manger? God chose to have the birth of Jesus in a manger and the uniqueness makes the birth of Jesus recognizable to all. How many people do you know or have you heard about that were born in a manger and slept in a bed of hay in a trough?

Jesus was born as a King but born as the lowest of the lowest in a manger whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy and tired carpenter. The manger smelled because the animals were all around them. His golden throne room had been abandoned in favor of a dirty animal pen. There was no bed in the inn so the baby had to be laid in a manger in a stable when He was born.

There were no kingly robes to place around Him. There were no drapes like those usually found in the palace of a King. No tapestries covered the windows to keep out the cold. The worshipping angels had been replaced with kind but very bewildered shepherds. The sounds in the court were of cows munching, hooves crunching, a mother humming and a baby nursing. This was a manger out in the back of the local inn and He was born there because there was no room for Him in the inn.

It could have happened anywhere because it was a birth of a King, but God chose a manger. Step inside and worship the babe in the manger with thanksgiving because He has come and He is Lord and Savior. Tomorrow is the birthday of the Christ child so let us CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR, JESUS with great joy!!

OUR MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK

“GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL,
TOWARD MEN.” LUKE 2:14

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

As I prepare for the celebration of Your birth tomorrow give me a new desire to serve You. Make me a blessing to my family. Make me more aware of their needs and give me more of a servant’s attitude. Make Christmas day for my family a day of rejoicing, praise and thanksgiving for all You have done for us.