It's The Manger For Me ♡♡♡

 

"And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger" - Luke  2:12

There was this one time, someone reached out to me on Facebook, after I put up a post about Easter. "Where in the bible did you read about Easter, she asked?" I was taken aback, not so much because she asked, but more the tone. As you can imagine, no one likes drama in the social media space lol. I can't remember what I responded. Similarly there are people who are indignant that others celebrate Christmas and other festivities like this. Afterall there are no records of these things in scripture. Something also along the lines of pagan worship. I agree totally, that Jesus, his death and resurrection ought to be something on our minds every single day. As much as possible and in all seasons. Jesus isn't only the reason for this season but the reason for ALL seasons.  For those who have Jesus consistently on thier hearts, Christmas is just another opportunity to talk about Jesus, since more people have thier attention and are probably willing to listen. Come let me show you something:

"Be very careful then how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" - Ephesians 5:15-16

"...But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice..." - Philippians 1:18-18

Granted the Christmas holidays have been commercialized. With all kinds of splurging, gallivanting, Christmas trees and decorations, Father Christmas and "who gets what" during the holidays. And for the homeless on the street, the broke, the poor, the broken, the lonely it can be a really depressing time. In the midst of all of this hoopla hoopla, it is STILL a great time to preach the gospel. Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Make the most of every opportunity, preach the gospel in season and out of season. Is Christ preached?  Yes? Good!

The "Far to see" & "Sad to see"[Pharisees & Sadducees lol] expected Jesus to come with a bang. You know come correct as they say. But the son of man came in swaddling clothes lying in a manger, What?!!! Like he was the son of an ordinary carpenter for goodness sake. This didn't sound like the Jesus they were expecting, and this is what I love the most about the Christmas story. God could have chosen to come in "great power" or come with legion of angels singing "thy throne rules and reigns forever" but he chose to come in weakness. He was found in a manger; a long open box or trough for horses or cattle to eat from. I am very sure though, that the people who witnessed his birth although they saw the star, had so many questions. Jesus came for the lost, the lonely, downtrodden, people in great great darkness. Jesus although a King is relatable. Born in a manger, yet shinning so bright. The message of the gospel is not "how to shine from the outside in",  it is really simply "how to shine from the inside out". The message of the gospel is not arrogance but humility. The message of the gospel is joy joy to the world A savior is born!

"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out thier appointed times in history and the boundaries of thier lands. God did this so that they would seek him and find him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring' - Acts 17:26-28

This scripture came alive to me this year. God does not play hide and seek with us. Like a song artist sang "He does not hide himself to tease us". God is not far from anyone of us. As a matter of fact He himself marked the boundaries of our dwellings and also appointed "our times" in history. NKJV version says "In the HOPE that they might GROPE for Him". So if anyone really wants to seek/find God, they can. He is not a celebrity surrounded by bodyguards or a high state official you need a pass to see. If God chose to come in a manger, let us best believe that He came for all. No one is left out of the "finding". If we feel far from Him, sadly it is because we have chosen to be.

So as it is still hot :). Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that over two thousand years ago, a Saviour changed our world for good. Jesus is not only the reason for the season. He is the reason for ALL seasons.

Love

SR