Laid Him in a Manger
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 (Lk. 2:7 KJV).
Jesus was born, and put in a manger, because there was no room left for His parents in the inn. The Son of God came, and was born in a barn, rather than a cradle in Caesar’s palace. Do you think the world would have believed Jesus more if He was born as a child of Caesar? This is what we might naturally be inclined to think, but God does not think this way.
God does not accomplish His purposes using the arm of the flesh. He did not need the glory of the Caesars to fulfill His will. I have heard some Christians say “if this or that Hollywood star becomes a Christian, then their influence might make a lot of people believe in Christ”. We must never allow ourselves to believe these sorts of things, because God does not operate this way. His kingdom will not be established primarily by human influence. He did not need to be born in the home of Caesar to accomplish His purposes on earth, and He will not share His glory with any man.
He was born in a barn, and changed human history from a manger. If God needed Caesar’s home, He would have gone for it. He needed a barn, a demonstration of both His humility, and His ability to confound the mighty by simple means.
MEDITATE
Did Christ have the choice to be born wherever He wanted? Can God still use you to accomplish His purposes in your life, even though you were not born with a golden spoon in your mouth?
APPLY THE WORD
Do not try to use human effort to accomplish God’s purpose in your life. Rest in the truth that He will provide everything you need.
PRAY
Don’t allow anyone, including yourself, to take the glory for God’s accomplishments through you. Pray that the Lord-and only the Lord-will take the glory in your life.
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