A Babe In A Manger

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12 NIV

Good Morning Girlfriends:

Year after year the Christmas story is told of how Joseph and Mary had traveled many miles to find a place in Bethlehem, a small town of David, for Mary to give birth to her baby. Joseph had knocked on the door to the Inn that was in that town, the Inn keeper had told them there was no room left for them to stay, but he offered for them to go out to the barn where they kept the animals. It was a cold night and very late as they arrived in the town, Mary knew she had to find a spot quickly because her baby was soon to be born. They settled in amongst the hay with the barn animals close by, it was not long after that Mary gave birth to a son. Already being told ahead of time by an angel, Joseph knew that he was to be called "Jesus" meaning Savior of the world.

The shepherds were told to follow the star and that is where they would find this baby lying in a manger. Seeing the new born baby they had went back to tell everyone the good news and everything had happened just how the angels said that it would.

There have been so many times I have had a dream, where I would open up my front door and there would be a baby in a basket just laying there sometimes with a note attached, other times there wasn't, but of course I would take that little one into my home. I'm sure many of you have had the same kind of dream, seeing a sweet little baby in a basket on your doorstep, your first instinct would be to take it in, right?

Girlfriends, this is a point I would like to make about the Christmas story that we have heard over and over, when they went to the Inn there was no room. Every where you look today, there does not seem to be any room in the world for our Lord. There is no room in our schools, they took Him out years ago. Not many high places talk about our Lord, even peoples homes there does not seem to be room for the Him, as sad as it sounds there are even Christians that do not make time for their Savior. If we as Christians do not make room for Jesus in our lives, how can we go out and share the good news to others who don't even know Him yet? The shepherds that came to find the baby in the manger were not believers of the Lord until they saw the baby and it happened just like the angels said it would, that is when they believe and accepted Jesus was who the angels said He was.

Here are a few words from a song by Casting Crowns about this same story...

Family hiding from the storm, Found no place at the keeper's door, It was for this a child was born, To save a world so cold and hollow. The sleeping town did not know, That lying in a manger low, A Savior King who had no home, Has come to heal our sorrows. Shepherds counting sheep at night, Do not fear the glory light, You are precious in His sight, God has come to raise the lowly. Mother holds the promise tight, Every wrong will be made right, The road is straight and the burdens light, For in His hands He holds tomorrow. Is there room in your heart? Is there room in your heart? Is there room in your heart for God to write His story? You can come as you are, But it may set you apart, When you make room in your heart, And trade your dreams for His glory, Make room in your heart, Make room in your heart.

Jesus has come to save the world that none be lost, He hasn't come to condemn it, but to save it, that means us, you. (John 3:16-17) Jesus tells us to come as we are, no matter what we have done in our past, it doesn't matter, He loves us, He sees our hurt and pain. He has come to save the lowly, so if you are in a low place, He has come for you. Just like the baby on the doorstep, you wouldn't leave it out there, you would take it in, Jesus is asking you the same question, won't you take Him in.

Let's Pray,

Precious Jesus, that is who you are, You are the one and only one who has come to save the world. You have come for each and every one that is represented here today. Today is the perfect day for that sweet dear one to receive you into their heart so that You can make your home in their heart. Lord, I lift that one up to You who has been searching for a Savior. I pray that they would come boldly and take the step of faith to ask you to come in to their heart, it is just that simple. That is exactly what me dad had said when he accepted You, he said he should have done it sooner. So I pray that each dear soul would reach out to You this Christmas season and accept Your free gift of salvation in the Mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Be blessed sweet ones and pass the blessings on.