Christmas

Lk. 1:26-33

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Lk. 2:4-20

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the  laying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

How wonderful that God came to dwell with man! In His name, Jesus, there is such power. In His life is the hope of all man. In His coming to the shepherds and in a stable, He opened the way for the poor, the humble, the often overlooked to come to Jesus. Empty religion has remained with the rich, the educated, and the elite. To the poor and the humble He has given a relationship with God Himself. Like Mary, I say, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts, He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate, He has filled the hungry, and the rich He has sent away empty. 

Praise God for His wonderful gift! Praise God for Jesus! Praise God for who He is and what He has done.

Father,

Keep my heart free of competition and the striving for human perfection. Help me to rest in Your gift of Jesus, to exalt You my father, and to have a heart centered on things above.

In Jesus name,

Amen