Christmas
This devotional is written by Chrissie Connolly.
Luke 2:1-7
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Reflection
Merry Christmas! This time of year is very important to a lot of people. It's a time for family, friends, Christmas cheer and the odd cup of mulled wine. Through the years though Christmas has become more secular, focusing on present giving and decorations and missing the whole reason why it is celebrated.
This season is all about the birth of the baby Jesus, the prophesied Messiah, in a stable in Bethlehem. His parents being treated as outcasts, as no one was able to house a pregnant woman in a desperate situation. With no place of safety or comfort and no one but Joseph to help, Mary gives birth to Jesus in a dark, dirty stable; with only rags as swaddling and a manger to lie in. This was far from the regal setting you would expect a king to be born into. He had no palace, jewels or servants to take care of his every need, he only had his parents and a few animals for company.
Why is this so significant? You would expect a grander entrance for the King of King's that was going to set the Jews free and save the whole of humankind. Yet that did not stop God. Through Jesus' life he provided amazing teaching and performed many miracles. Then he became the ultimate sacrifice to overcome sin; His death on the cross means we can now enjoy eternal life.
We should therefore not limit God. As the great Messiah was created out of a dark and dirty stable, we can also be brought out of the darkness of sin into Jesus' light. God is working in all areas of our lives even if we can't yet see it.
Questions: Are there any areas in your life where you feel God is not present or you feel restricted?
Find a quiet place and spend a moment giving them to God. Then wait and listen to see what God is saying to you.
This season is all about the birth of the baby Jesus, the prophesied Messiah, in a stable in Bethlehem. His parents being treated as outcasts, as no one was able to house a pregnant woman in a desperate situation. With no place of safety or comfort and no one but Joseph to help, Mary gives birth to Jesus in a dark, dirty stable; with only rags as swaddling and a manger to lie in. This was far from the regal setting you would expect a king to be born into. He had no palace, jewels or servants to take care of his every need, he only had his parents and a few animals for company.
Why is this so significant? You would expect a grander entrance for the King of King's that was going to set the Jews free and save the whole of humankind. Yet that did not stop God. Through Jesus' life he provided amazing teaching and performed many miracles. Then he became the ultimate sacrifice to overcome sin; His death on the cross means we can now enjoy eternal life.
We should therefore not limit God. As the great Messiah was created out of a dark and dirty stable, we can also be brought out of the darkness of sin into Jesus' light. God is working in all areas of our lives even if we can't yet see it.
Questions: Are there any areas in your life where you feel God is not present or you feel restricted?
Find a quiet place and spend a moment giving them to God. Then wait and listen to see what God is saying to you.
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