....and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:7
There was no lodging available for the birth of Christ? He could have been born anywhere, any place, at any time. He was the prince of peace. He was a savior. He was a king.
But he was not born into wealth, in a castle, in a palace, in a mansion, or as a billionaire. He was born in a manger, a feed trough for animals, in a barn, with the animals.
There are many iconic pictures of this scene. The golden straw and content animals looking on. The bright star shining down. The people all smiling in admiration.
But as a farm girl, I imagine a different scene. A scene that reeks of animals and manure. Piles of dung. Straw that is pokey and scratchy, making you itch. Nervous cattle stomping around, mooing and bellowing. A young teenage mother, unsure of what to do next.
The fact that God humbled himself to a human level and sent his son as an infant, the most fragile, helpless form of life, under these conditions is absolutely amazing. The fact that he reached down to my level, to speak to my heart, to offer to save me is amazing as well. The fact that God cares for the oppressed and brings salvation to rejected and outcast people is definite cause for praise and rejoicing this Christmas season.
Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth... Luke 2:14
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