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While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 6-7)
Are you ready for Christmas, asked the pastor yesterday? Are you ready, dear Friend? He answered his own question, "Whether you're ready or not, it's coming!" And, indeed, tonight is Christmas Eve!
Some years ago, we were awaiting the arrival of our oldest daughter's first child, who would be our third grandchild. It was an exciting, anxious time! Being a creature of habit, I start rituals. When news came that we were going to be parents I played a song called "Dancing Days," and as Nellie and I prayed and anxiously awaited the time our grandson decided to make his appearance I heard the song from whom the title for today's devotional comes. The song is "I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas and like the song predicted, Caleb Eradio Garcia made his appearance! What joy was and is ours. One can only imagine the joy, along with the fear on the part of Mary and Joseph. One should not travel during their last trimester is usually the OB/GYN's advice, and here we have Mary and Joseph traveling by donkey to Bethlehem from Nazareth. Not a short journey and certainly not an easy journey, but they were required by the Roman government to participate in a census. Lodging was not available to them, and to a cave used as a stable they went, and when Jesus was born, His crib was a feeding trough.
What a wonderful night that was for you and me. Our Lord and Savior was born, and to verify this, God sent angels to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks in the region. A heavenly vision would cause many to quake and tremble, and the standard biblical greeting from heavenly beings was shared, "Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people; to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." BAM!!
The long-awaited Anointed One of God had arrived in humble circumstances; the One born to reconcile all people with their God. Sin would be no more, and death had met its final defeat in the Son of God. The implications and blessings are too numerous to list; suffice it to say, that was was a good, good night!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the good, good night that we celebrate tonight. Born was our King, our Lord, our Savior. Let me find ways to praise and worship You for that great gift. May Your blessings be upon all who still must travel during today and these days. May Your traveling mercies be with all. May our time with family, loved ones and friends, be worshipful times. Be glorified Lord Jesus in Whose name we pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed Christmas! May it be all about Jesus! Find an occasion to say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS! And find the gift that He wants from You!
Eradio Valverde
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2: 1-20 NRSV)
