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. (Luke 2:7)
Can't you picture it? Mary and Joseph, figuring out how to care for their newborn baby in a setting made for animals, not people—because "there was no room for them in the inn." The place was all wrong, but they did the best they could anyway.
Somebody (either Joseph or a midwife, if they were blessed with one) found water and helped clean up mother and Child. Mary had already prepared swaddling cloths for Jesus and packed them in their gear—it was probably Joseph who fetched those and watched while she wrapped Him up. And I wonder who thought of the manger? Much better to lay Jesus there in safety than to put Him on the cold floor where a cow or donkey might step on Him, or rats bite Him! They didn't have much, but they were doing their best—and God did not scorn it.
And God? He too was doing His best—giving us His beloved Son Jesus, to become a human being among human beings, one of us. God became part of our family—so that we could become part of His.
Thirty-three years later, that sleeping baby would be an adult man, hanging on a cross. He chose that suffering willingly, to break the power of evil and to set us all free from death. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus gave us the very best He had—forgiveness. Life. Salvation. A place in God's family. And best of all, Himself, to love us forever.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, I love You. Keep me close to You forever. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* What kinds of things do people do when they are preparing for a baby?
* What do you think God did when He was preparing to send Jesus into the world?
* Name one of the best things Jesus has done for you in your life.
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Bible Readings: Nehemiah 1-3 Revelation 16
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