And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)
My quirky mind responds: this mug is like me, washed clean on the inside but that does not show up easily on the outside — until I get in hot water and rely on the Lord. Not an exact illustration, but close enough to remind me that I don’t need a dose of trouble to keep centered on Jesus. He is with me all the time and in all situations!
Today’s devotional begins with seeing Jesus, not just as a babe in a manger as depicted in nativity scenes this time of year, but as He is now and as He was as a grown man:
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)
MacArthur writes the truth of what happened to baby Jesus, and that reality was in my mind most of yesterday, even as we celebrated His birth. The devotional says:
“Those soft baby hands fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb were made to have two great nails hammered through them. Those little chubby feet were made to walk up a hill and be nailed to a cross. That sacred head was made to wear a crown of thorns. His tender body wrapped in swaddling clothes would be pierced by a spear to reveal a broken heart. The death of Christ was no accident; He was born to die.”
Jesus died because the blackness of sin was keeping humanity from knowing and loving God. Sin makes us far more concerned with our own selves, our way, our rights, even what is under a tree with our name on it.
Jesus came to die in our place—to be our substitute. Otherwise, we would die and pay for our own sin. He was not a martyr dying for a great cause, but a substitute and a Savior dying for you and me so we could be set free from the penalty and power of sin to love and serve God instead of being enamored with our own selves and our own stuff.
He was on my mind all day. While I was thankful for the gifts from family, each thing wrapped was a reminder of the greatest gift — eternal life and a relationship with my Creator that cannot be put in a box and tied up with a golden ribbon.
PRAY: Jesus, yesterday we celebrated You as God’s gift to us and I felt Your love in each gift was opened. I’ve often called myself ‘God’s spoiled brat’ and that is evident today as I smell the turkey soup in the crockpot, view the leftover yummies in the frig, and look with a bit of dismay at thoughtful gifts and count all the chocolates. May my heart always be thankful, for these things but mostly that you came as a babe, grew to a man, and died as my substitute to set me free from the blackness of sin, and even from all the hot water I would be in if I didn’t have You and Your protection and care to guide my life.
PONDER: The gentle nativity scene is nothing like the intended result of that birth — a scene of blood and horror as the innocent Jesus was put to death that I should not experience separation from the One who created me and died for me. This is the wonder of Christmas.
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