“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”  Matthew 1:23

“A Baby’s hands in Bethlehem were small and softly curled,

But held within their dimpled grasp, the Hope of all the world.”

I love this time of year!  I love the lights, the music and the warmth of the season!   I love times spent with family and receiving cards from loved ones!  There is so much going on, it’s easy to forget the significance of what really happened!  That God, in the Person of the Son, Jesus Christ, invaded our world!

That God was actually born as a baby is amazing in itself and even people who do not believe are captivated by such an incredible story.  A young girl, a virgin, had to tell her finance’ that she was pregnant with the Son of God!  Then they would travel 80 miles to Bethlehem to register for a census and there deliver the Son of God in a stable because there was no room for them in the Inn.  If we hadn’t read it in the Bible, we wouldn’t believe it!  It is too amazing and filled with drama and mystery, shrouded in wonder as well as danger, as a wicked King attempts to kill the baby.  What a story!

But….would you have been ready when Jesus came?  Not many were!  Although Jesus fulfilled more than 100 scriptures that literally tell of His birth, his life and His death and resurrection, only a few were ready.  His coming was revealed to the common people:  Mary and Joseph, a poor but obedient couple who could only offer two doves for Jesus’ consecration in the temple.  The shepherds, the lowest rung on the social scale, saw the heavenly host and rushed to see the baby, praising God.  Anna and Simeon, two very old people stayed at the temple waiting for the Messiah.  The Wise men, who were gentiles, saw the star and made the long journey to Israel to worship the King.

Most of the people of Bethlehem were oblivious to the fact that God had visited his people.  The merchants were unaware.  The townspeople would have scoffed at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager in a stable in their village.  They were all too busy.  They missed it that night, not because of evil or malice, but just because they weren’t looking.

Others did not rejoice when Jesus was born!  The religious leaders, living 6 miles away in Jerusalem were unprepared for the arrival of the Messiah.  They thought they would be the recipients of such momentous news!  Their hearts were unprepared.  The political leaders were unconcerned and Herod sought to kill Him.  Why were they so foolish?  They knew what the scriptures said, but they chose not to believe!

Will you be ready when Jesus comes back?  Or will you be like the innkeeper who had no room for Jesus?  Jesus stands today, He wants to come into the Inn of your heart!  He wants to live with you!  He is the perfect gentleman and will not kick in the door.  He stands outside and knocks.  (Revelation 3:20)  “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.”  Jesus did not come to reform us, He came to transform us!  Surrender your life to Him today and let the transformation begin!

 Your friend Jean