December 21 It Was for You

Luke 2:12-14 “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
 
DID you ever wonder why God, the eternal Father, the Creator of the universe, the One who has made majestic mountains and one-cell animals would have his very own Son born in a manger? I’ve been around mangers. They’re dirty. Animals drool into a manger as they eat. Who knows what forms of God’s creation live in a manger? Oh, Lord God of all creation, couldn’t you at least have opened a room in the crowded inn for your own Son?
     Actually, you could ask a number of “why questions” about Jesus’ life. Why was he born into a lower-class working family? Why did he wait until he was 30 to begin his ministry? Why did people hate him so? Why did they kill you, Jesus? Based on reading the entire council of God – that is, the Bible, I believe the Lord God’s answer would be something like this: “Why, you ask, did I allow My Son to have such a hard birth, difficult life and tortuous death? It was all for you, my child. You see, my Son is my gift to you. Jesus is my demonstration of the depths of my love for you. Sending my Son from the most glorious existence in Heaven to a lowly place on earth, I have shown to you real humility. You must now be humble so that my words will teach you. You must now be willing to serve me wherever I call you to be with me.
     “I wanted my Son to know what work is like for you, so he could understand your frustrations and pain as you turn to him in prayer. My Son’s life was to show you I am willing to do anything to have you turn and call me “Father”. My Son’s life, death and resurrection was to open the doorway to my home for you forever. Yes, this is all for you, my child. I am a God who walks with you everywhere, even when it stinks, when it’s uncomfortable, when it’s deadly. My Son has experienced this. He knows your needs. Trust him, and turn to him. When you do, I will welcome you into my home. And we – myself, my Son, my Spirit and you – will live together forever in the glory the shepherds saw that night.”
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your Son and your Spirit come to dwell among us. Teach me the humility I must have to faithfully trust and serve you. In Jesus’ name, amen.