To contact us Click HERE
"Andthis will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths,lying in a manger." (Luke2:12)
WhenGod sent Jesus Christ as a gift to the world, He didn't want anyone to missit. So He gave signs to confirm Christ'sbirth. One sign was that the baby wouldbe born in a manger.
Amanger is literally a feeding trough for beasts. This was Jesus' first bed, a place wherepigs, cows, horses, and sheep were fed. Jesus didn't have a nice oak crib with a Simmons Beautyrestmattress. No, He slept in a stonetrough, the kind used in Palestine at that time. His first resting place was a cold, hard,dirty manger. The angel gave a veryspecific sign to help the shepherds identify their Messiah. Not many babies have an animal feeding troughfor their first crib! I don't know ofany, besides Jesus.
Themanger has spiritual significance because it illustrates Jesus' purpose incoming to earth. Our hearts can be justlike that feeding trough―unclean and oftentimes cold and hard likestone. Even so, our spiritual heartshunger to know God.
Humanhearts are not only unclean, but often beastly. We have a fallen and sinful nature, but that's why Jesus came. God the Son became a man to die for our sinsand bring forgiveness and new life with God. When we repent of our sin and receive Jesus Christ, we discover thegreatest Christmas gift of all: God's love. Oh, how restless and disquieted our hearts can be without Christ!
Augustinesaid, "Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless tillthey find rest in Thee."
Jesussaid, "Come to Me, all you who laborand are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Your heart, like that manger, can be a placeof rest with Jesus. (Sentby permission from Pastor Wayne Taylor; info@calvaryfellowship.org)
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder