December 24 – No Room

    “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

The world today seems to have NO ROOM for Jesus. The average adult American spends twenty-five hours a week watching television, so he has NO ROOM for his children. With a fifty-percent divorce rate, couples have NO ROOM for forgiveness. Public schools have NO ROOM for prayer. As four thousand babies are aborted daily, misguided mothers have NO ROOM for the miracle of birth.

Yet, the voice of God still calls and is heard by those who will listen and make room. King Herod could still the infant voices, but not the angels’ singing. He could kill all the babies, but not the Son of God. He could put out the lights in Bethlehem, but not the star! God has a supernatural solution! “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

How about you? Are you making room for God in your life? Regular church attendance, daily Bible reading, and prayer are a few essential elements of developing a relationship with God. In the fast pace of this busy world in which you live, you only will find time for these things by making room!

PRAY: “Father, forgive me for getting too busy to spend quality time with You. I need closer fellowship with You and to hear Your voice more clearly. Amen.”

December 22 – Gifts Of The Magi

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.   Matthew 2:11

Isn’t it amazing that, at the very sight of the Christ Child, these wise and learned men who had traveled so far fell down before Him in an open act of worship? Their hearts had been PREPARED for the wonderful event. They had been studying the skies and the holy writings for some time, as learned men of that day did.

Traditionally, on Christmas cards you see depicted three finely dressed kings bearing their gifts for the Christ Child. In contrast to the lowly shepherds, it is nice to see that men of privileged rank were drawn to Christ as well; but this was more than coincidental…it was necessary to satisfy the customs of the day that demanded that a kingly child, destined to rule, receive gifts from neighboring kings. In later years, this visit of the magi would become yet another piece of evidence to confirm the birth of the Messiah.

Sovereignly, God used the gifts of the magi…GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, and MYRRH…to assure His Son’s kingly entrance into the world. God specializes in using the NATURAL to create SUPERNATURAL. You may feel little and insignificant, but always remember: Your Daddy is a God of miracles and the supernatural! Trust Him to make a way for YOU!

PRAY: “Your ways are so much greater than mine. Help me to see Your Divine purpose in all things. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

December 20 – O Christmas Tree

 “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”  Genesis 2:9

There are several stories about the origin of the Christmas tree. People in Scandinavia once worshipped trees but, when they became Christians, they made evergreen trees part of their Christian festivals.

Another legend tells how Saint Boniface, an English missionary, was traveling through Germany about 1200 years ago and came upon a group of heathens preparing to sacrifice Prince Asuif to the god Thor at an oak tree. He stopped them and cut down the oak, whereupon a fir tree appeared. Saint Boniface told the people that the fir was the “Tree of Life,” representing Christ.

As a Christian, you can be reminded of another “tree” that has eternal significance for all of mankind…the cross of Christ! “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” (I Peter 2:24a)

There is no doubt that some Christmas customs and symbols have little relevance to biblical Christianity and God must be grieved, but you can celebrate loudly the true meaning…instruct your children…and preserve the religious Christmas carols!

PRAY: “Loving Father, as Your servant, help me to promote Your message of love this Christmas season. Thank You for Your gift of love that bore my sins on the tree. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”