Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Arrival
Today’s Verse:
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. ~Luke 2:7
Online shopping has become such a convenient means of shopping for something you need instead of going to the store, waiting in line, and hassling with the crowds. The leading companies in online shopping give you free shipping if you spend a minimum amount of money. They give you the ability to track the shipment of your package. When it has been delivered, they send you a message that tells you, “Your package has arrived.” When Jesus entered our world, God’s gift had arrived. Let us see the glory in the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There was the preeminence in His arrival.
Jesus is called the firstborn Son. “Firstborn” implies the first in order and priority. It means the one who is the head. It refers to Jesus in His preeminence. Jesus is our Creator and not a created being. Jesus is God Who was made flesh and dwelt among us. At the moment of His entry into this world, the Bible makes very clear that He is preeminent. All during Mary’s pregnancy, Jesus was her first thought, recurring thought, and continuous thought. We must be careful that we are not so busy that Jesus’ preeminence is a mere afterthought with us. Celebrate His arrival by acknowledging His preeminence.
There was the privation in His arrival.
Let us see the humility and poverty in Jesus’ arrival. Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. Mary and Joseph were of meager and frugal means. Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth used to wrap the limbs and body. This was the poor man’s method of securely clothing a baby. Because there were no available and affordable lodging places, the only possible place Mary could give birth where there was reasonable safety from the elements was in a cave stall for animals. He was laid in an animal trough that Joseph improvised with hay as a cradle. Our Lord humbled Himself in His entry. Though He was rich, He became poor; that we, through His poverty, should be made rich.
There was the preclusion in His arrival.
Luke wanted us to know that there was no room in the inn for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. What sadness to know there was no room to lodge a newborn Baby and His mother. Even more sad is the fact that many people today have no room for Jesus. They have no room for Him for worship. They have no room for Him in their lives. They have no room for Him in their finances. They have no room for Him in their schedules. They have no room for Him in their thoughts.
There was the priority in His arrival.
The dwellers throughout Judea were wrapped up in their lives and too busy to give attention that the fullness of time had come and that Jesus came forth into this world. However, the angels of God gave glory to His arrival as a great chorus singing and giving praise to Jesus. They engaged shepherds watching their flocks that night in the fields. The shepherds obeyed and went to see the Christ Child lying in the manger. With enthusiasm, they shared abroad what they had seen and heard. Christmas directs us to give glory to God for the arrival of our Lord. We are to give God the glory for the fulfillment of His divine plan for bringing Jesus into this world. We are to blaze abroad an enthusiastic witness of the salvation that Jesus offers to every sinner. Rejoice this morning that Jesus has come and He reconciles the world unto Himself.
Have a Christ-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 John 1-5
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