December 27, 2019

Luke 2:7 KJV
[7] 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.

Your reading in Revelation if you’re keeping up with that is Revelation 20.

As Christmas week draws to a close we trust, and pray that you have had a wonderful holiday season. I want to one last time this year focus on the nativity scene. We get a warm picture often portrayed to us with the nativity scene with the Christmas cards, and the decorations set up in front of churches, they’re sweet, warm, and nostalgic. The birth of Jesus was far from a pleasant experience I’m sure. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 90 miles, and our best guess would be it probably took 3-5 days to complete (at least), there was no room once they got there, there was no hospital, no epidural shots, no pain killers. Just a cave or stable with a manger.
I want to focus on the manger today. The manger is simply defined as a feed trough, it was where animals would get their food, and nourishment to survive. Do you see where this is headed? Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. What a beautiful, albeit humble picture of our Savior. Everywhere Jesus went in His ministry He represented life, fulfillment, nourishment, and service. Just as Jesus being placed in a trough that was used to feed and nourish symbolized what He was all about, so should our lives reflect that same service, and humility to others. May our life be a feeding trough where people can receive the spiritual nourishment they need to keep going.

Frank Newsome