A prayer that leads us to the manger
Written by Lynette Kittle
Bible reading:
“And she bare her firstborn, a son. Because there was no guest room available to them, she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger.” – Luke 2:7
Listen or read below:
Most people looking for the coming Messiah would not have started by combing through the nearby stables in an unassuming village on the outskirts of Jerusalem, looking for a manger holding a newborn baby, the King of kings.
Rather, they sought Him in the aristocratic palaces that provided a luxurious, clean, and safe environment in which newborn babies received the best care and food, a fitting way to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world.
But Jesus was born among lowly livestock in a thatched stable, far from the riches of the world and the comforts and cushions of nobility.
As recorded in Isaiah 53:2, “He grew before God like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or dignity to attract us, and there was nothing in his appearance that we would desire in him.”
guided by the star of god
At the time of Jesus’ birth, the Magi, who had been studying prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, followed God’s bright star and stopped in Jerusalem to search for the newborn king.
Their arrival is recorded in Matthew 2:1-2, which says, “In the days of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the Magi came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is he who is born King of the Jews? We have seen his star rise and have come to worship him.'”
In sync with God’s plan, the wise men were on the right track to follow the star and be guided to the caretaker. As Matthew 2:3-6 explains, their quest led to Jerusalem and attracted the attention of King Herod.
“When King Herod heard this, he was moved, and all Jerusalem was with him. He called together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and asked them where the Messiah would be born. ‘Bethlehem of Judea,’ they answered, ‘for thus wrote the prophets.’
“But you, Bethlehem, who dwells in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah.
For from among you will arise a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. ”
hidden from the king
Fearing losing his power to a new king, Matthew 2:7-8 says, “Herod secretly called the Magi and learned from them the exact time when the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go, search carefully for the child, and as soon as you find him, report back to him, so that I too may go and worship him.”
Matthew 2:9-12 records the reactions and actions of the wise men after they were questioned by King Herod.
“After they heard the voice of the king, they continued on their journey. The star they saw when it rose continued ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. When they arrived home, they saw the child with his mother Mary, They fell down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. ”
Once again, the Magi were guided by God and followed God’s guidance rather than reporting to the king. Like the wise men, we do not come to Jesus in the manger on our own, but are led by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Without him, we would never have found the Messiah, just as Herod never did.
Let’s pray:
Dear father,
Today, especially as we look forward to next Christmas, we ask the Holy Spirit to lead us to the manger, to Jesus, and to lead others there too.
Open our eyes, ears, and hearts to experience the wonder of the manger and see the beauty and simplicity surrounding his birth.
Reveal to us the spiritual meaning and significance of the fact that Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born in a stable, wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger, rather than in a cradle covered with fine linen and adorned with emblems of jewels.
Like the Magi, let us seek the Lord with all our hearts and share and experience the joy and awe they felt when they found Him so long ago.
Soften our hearts, lay down our treasures before God, bow down and worship Him as King of kings.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen.
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Photo credit: © Getty Images/jchizhe
Lynette Kittle is married and has four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her work has been published in Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and elsewhere. She holds a master’s degree in communications from Regent University and is an associate producer at Soul Check TV.
Related Resources: Be Still – Advent Meditation
This season of Advent is busy and hectic, but that’s why we need time to stop and be still with God. So Much More is a podcast created to bring you a space to be with God. This month we’ll be introducing Advent meditations designed to help you quiet your mind and hear from the Lord. If you like what you hear, subscribe to So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
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