Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Luke 2:4, “Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.”

Background

Christmas will be here soon. This news, of course, comes as a shock to no one. Advertisements and sale papers and Christmas music have been pushing us forward relentlessly since before Thanksgiving. By now, your tree is up, the house is decorated, probably inside and out, and perhaps you’ve even begun baking. Hopefully, most of your shopping is complete, and you can simply enjoy what’s left of the Christmas season. I know, it’s a pipe dream. The very few of you who are completely ready for Christmas are extremely unique, as most of us are scurrying and preparing right up to the last minute. But I wonder what people were doing a couple weeks before Jesus was born. Were Mary and Joseph already on their way down to Bethlehem? Maybe they were just getting there and had begun to find out how difficult it was going to be to find a place to stay. Perhaps they had already settled into the manger area as Mary’s time was drawing near. If so, did they feel any shame at the, oh, let’s call it unrefined, setting in which they were to give birth to God’s Son? Were their prayers a mixture of gratitude for God’s deliverance and apologies for starting His family in a trough?

Application

And though I’m sure they had been around babies being born back in Nazareth, did their minds spin with wonder as they pondered how you give birth to the Son of God? Would angels appear to deliver Him? Would the baby look different than an ordinary newborn? Would God Himself somehow show up? No, I don’t think Mary and Joseph spent too much time decorating their accommodations or sprucing up the straw. I think their hearts were too consumed with the impending arrival. I think our hearts are consumed, too. But with what? How are you preparing for the celebration of Jesus’ arrival? Are you burdened or overjoyed? Is it all external, or are you getting ready within? You know how it should be, but are you making it happen? Will you this Christmas put first things first?

Charge

As we seek Him today, commit to making these next few days of Christmas as much about Jesus as possible. Enjoy and experience rather than enduring and tolerating.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words