No place…

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7, NRSV)

We all know this story. The one of our Savior born in a manger because there was no room for the family in the Inn.

We all assume it was because Joseph was a typical man who assumed he could get a room and did not make reservations.

Or that they were so late because as we all know traveling with a woman who is 9 months pregnant is not always the quickest undertaking…

But the thing we fail to notice or see is that Bethlehem was the town of Joseph’s family. That is why he had to go there. So the Inn they were turned away from was more than likely a family home that didn’t want the disgrace of having the baby born that would not have been Joseph’s…

And isn’t this really the truth today?

Do we really have room for the in breaking of the Kingdom of God?

To allow God to have control and a space in our lives is scary. To say He is totally welcome to come and do with our lives as He wishes, is scary.

Are we really ready for the baby that is to be born this night?

Do you really have a place for Him?

History brought to life

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. (Luke 1:67-80, NRSV)

The oath the blessed Lord swore to Abraham has been remembered and is being shown forth here today!

What a wonderful gift to see that the promises we have been told and hold dear are things we can truly rely on!

God has sent His messenger to prepare the way for the coming King!

Light will break forth in the darkness and we will have a path set before us and a guide for our feet in this world!

The spirit will lead John the Baptist and us on our journey with God as we see history in the promises of God brought to life in the baby in the manger!

Sing to the Lord!

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” (Luke 1:46-55, NRSV)

Mary sings to the glory of the Lord!

There are many reasons why Mary shouldn’t be singing.

She is a young woman who is having the baby that does not belong to her husband. This would make her an outcast and estrange her from her family.

She though looks beyond the trouble of the day to the brightness of the coming future. She sees through the eyes of the Lord to the coming victory!

And because of this she can sing!

And she sings like Hannah sang, and shows us how to sing to the Lord.

Even when it seems we have no reason to sing, the Lord is reason enough!

perplexed

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38, NRSV)

What would you do if an angel came and greeted you?

I know what I would probably do. I would probably run away screaming at the top of my lungs like a little girl…

It would scare me. I am not afraid to admit it. I think God believes it would scare people as well, since every time an angel appears to people, they usually say, “Do not be afraid.”

But Mary is perplexed. Which is confused, or in amazement. And she listens to all the angel has to say, and replies, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

Most of us would have said, “Yea right! Who are you and where is the camera?” I would be wondering if I was dreaming or on some TV show.

But God sent His message and Mary responded. And that is what God wants from us. A response of, “Yes it seems a little far-fetched, but you are God so I will believe you and have it done as you say.”

If we could be amazed and wondering about God all the time, we might follow after Him and be blessed beyond our wildest imaginations!

clings

O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:1-8, NRSV)

How many of you have ever had that sock that is just stuck to your jeans when it comes out of the dryer?

It doesn’t seem to happen as much any more. Maybe dryers have developed over the years to not build up static electricity.

But I always remember that sock that would just not come off the jeans. It was clinging there for life…

That is the image I get from this psalm, of us clinging to God, for life!

For His steadfast love is better than life, and He will give us what we need and be a shelter for us in the storm.

So cling to Him, and know He will hold you up!