How Silently The Wondrous Gift Was Given

Hey, Y'all,

Hope the Christmas craziness hasn't overwhelmed you completely--I've seen some of that this week and it's not pretty! Here's a little antidote (not sure but I think it's also based on a recent PurposeDrivenLife.com post)...

A couple of millennia ago, in the little town of Bethlehem, the most important birth in all of human history took place. It was a sparsely attended affair--some bleating farm animals and a handful of shepherds who wouldn't have known to be there had not the sky lit up with a multitude of heavenly hosts only minutes before, praising God and inviting the shepherds to the stable (what an invitation, huh?!?). But with the exception of that outburst, however, no one else knew. Oh yes, there were some astrologers from the East who figured out what was going on by studying the stars and some ancient manuscripts, but they didn't make it to town until at least a year or two later when the baby Jesus was a child.

Have you ever wondered--why such an uneventful welcome for such an auspicious event?

It's God's way. He's always been quiet about His work on earth. Like the carol says, "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift was given; So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of His heaven." He's even pretty quiet about the way He works in our lives. Interesting, huh? Silently, He came into the world; silently, He comes into our hearts. No fanfare. No marching bands. God has never been into self-promotion. He simply lets His work speak for itself.

And that, by he way, would be you and me. Believers are the result of Christ's coming. It is all about "good news and glad tidings for all people." A Savior has been born and He has been born for us. Or as the angel announced it: "The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!" (Luke 2:11)

There was no room for the Son of God when He came the first time, but let's keep an eye out for Him this Christmas--and remember, He's not likely to be loud and clamoring for or attention--so let's make sure there's room for Him in our hearts this Christmas!

You've been prayed for today...