Devotion: The Birth of Jesus
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quinirius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1-7
“No vacancy” at the inn. A stable? What a place to give birth to the promised Messiah! The Savior’s first human experiences would be the sounds and smells of the animals.
Mary and Joseph were put in that position and she was soon to deliver a child. The baby Jesus is born, wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a lowly manger. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords isn’t born in the finest palace with a golden crib. When Jesus allowed himself to be laid in the manger, He was identifying with those He came to save. He wanted to be available to all who desired Him.
The shepherds were lowly, dirty men who were at liberty to approach the baby Jesus in this place because the surroundings were familiar to them. He was laid in a manger…a feeding trough for farm animals. The lowliest of places. He would become the “Bread of Life” in this world. He was born into humility and people would come to Him to feed their hungry souls. Because of His love for you and me, Jesus became fully human. Never again can we say that no one understands us. Jesus does. He wanted mankind to know that their greatest aspiration should be to glorify God, not wealth and worldly riches.
No room in the inn? How many of us have put up a “No Vacancy” sign in our hearts? Our rooms are filled with Christmas parties, gift wrapping, baking, good intentions, selfishness, and worldly distractions. 2,000 years later there is still no room in the inn as Jesus is taken out of society, schools, homes, and lives.
How much room do you have in your heart this Christmas? What are you doing to show God’s love to others? How much are you freely giving of yourself? Is the busyness of Christmas closing your heart to Jesus? He has room for us to come to Him, and be saved by grace. Let us make room for Him!
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus; There is room in my heart for thee. Amen.
This devotion is written by Janice Nelson.
If you would like to serve as a member of the Sheridan Lutheran Writing Team and help to write devotions based on the text for the weekend, contact Patty Forsberg.
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