December 13–Prepared

Happy Thursday and I hope you are doing well and not overly stressed about the coming holidays. I’ve probably been too relaxed and not done enough preparation. I wonder how prepared Mary was when they took off for Bethlehem. 


It was about an 80 mile journey for them and since she was full term, they couldn’t go very fast. It probably took them at least a week. Here this little teenage girl was trying to get ready for a 3 (or more) week trip and she could barely walk. How could she be adequately prepared when all they had to carry their belongings was a donkey who also carried her. How could she pack enough food? Water? Blankets? Baby items? And over that barren, rocky land, their feet must have been a mess. 


“He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” Luke‬ ‭2:5-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬


So in that cave or rickety structure, crowded with the inn keeper’s and guest’s animals, Mary went into labor. In that dirty place that smelled of manure, her baby was born—her firstborn son who was also her Savior. She had some cloth strips to wrap him in and she laid him in a feed bin. Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Will one day rule the nations? Is heaven’s perfect Lamb? And this child that you’ve delivered will soon deliver you? Or at that moment, was he just her baby?


“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬


The Savior of the world, God in the flesh had the most humble of entrances, yet through Him, those that were watching saw the Glory of God revealed in human form. Joy to the World, the Lord has come. 


Dear Jesus, we can never thank you enough for taking on human form and sacrificing yourself so that we might live. You are the Alpha and the Omega and we celebrate your earthly life this Christmas. Hallelujah to the Lamb! Help us Lord to love more freely and to care more deeply for those around us, as your perfect example teaches. You are a great God and we worship and praise you this day. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one, 

Pam

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