The Forgotten Manger

Two years ago God challenged me with a simple, yet convicting question: Why do you celebrate Christmas?

My quick answer at the time was: because of Jesus.

God answered me with a question — Honestly?

His response caught me off guard and really convicted me.

You see I genuinely wanted my answer to be Jesus, but in reality it wasn’t because in all honesty I had never put intentional effort into making it truly about Him. My affections for the world and the excitement of getting had displaced Jesus. I had made it about the gifts, the dinners, the music, the gifts, the desserts, the movies, the drinks and oh did I mention the gifts? 

Can you relate?

We get so wrapped up with gift wrapping, tinsel and chocolate, that we forget about that precious child once wrapped in cloth, laying in a manger, and what it took for Him to get there. 

She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger - Luke 2:7 ESV

We forget that Jesus chose to leave His throne and become flesh, to make a way for a lost and hopeless people. 

We forget the hard, tiresome and challenging journey Joseph and Mary had to take, in order to get to the Bethlehem.

We forget the rejection they received once they arrived.

We forget that in a split moment, as Mary pushed that sweet baby boy into this unforgiving world, His first cry shattered 400 years of silence and broke open the flood gates of the greatest love story ever recorded.

We forget that as Mary swaddled the precious babe; laying him on her chest, gazing down at his bold eyes and feeling his heartbeat next to hers, she was the first person to see God made flesh.

And it was in those fearsome and treasured moments that will only forever be known to Joseph and Mary where —

God revealed Himself as the One who keeps His promises (Isaiah 9:6).

God revealed Himself as the One who answers the prayers of His people (Luke 2:11-12).

God revealed Himself as the One who reaches down in tender love to a desperate generation by becoming one of them (1 John 4:9).

We forget all of this and instead we give Jesus a back row seat to Santa.

And we're breaking God's heart.

The food, the drinks, the decorations, the movies and the gifts; though nothing is wrong with these things in and of themselves, they tempt us to stray from our first love. These worldly pleasures silently steal our affections away from Jesus, consuming us and leading us to forget the true meaning of Christmas.

As I’ve processed these truths and the reality of what this season has become in our culture, another question was brought to mind that I'd like you to sit with for a moment:

What would Christmas look like if the manager had remained empty? 

My answer: well, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas at all.

You see . . .

The manger was the first step toward the rugged cross.

The cross hung His body, which was then laid in the empty tomb.

The tomb held the secret of an ancient promise sealed by the stone.

The stone rolled from it's place to a bright and glorious day.

The day brought life anew as the breath of life filled His lungs once again.

The breath broke deaths chains and there came the promised victory.

The victory over sin and the redemption freely given for you and me.

As the holiday season begins trickling in, surrounding us with it’s sweet scents, twinkling lights, and songs about the birth of a child — don’t let those lyrics be the only part of Christmas you share with Jesus.

Remember the manger.

Put the nativity scene front and centre.

Give without expecting anything in return.

Read the Christmas story.

Remember the cross.

Serve others in love.

Thank Him daily for His sacrifice.

Invite someone to church.

Remember the tomb.

Show kindness and humility.

Pray without ceasing for the lost.

Celebrate Jesus and all the wonder He encompasses.

Remember the cost of your redemption.

May this holiday season go deeper than the here and now.

May this holiday season reverberate with the resounding song of hope.

May this holiday season hold fast to what is true and worthy of our adoration.

I'll close with the question God challenged me with not so long ago:

Why do I celebrate Christmas?

I can honestly say that it isn't because of the gifts, or the food, or the movies. No, I celebrate the wonder of this season because it is a gentle and wholesome reminder of a forgotten manager; a manger filled with love, and hope and life. And I want to remember this manger, and how it paved the way to my redemption.

With much love - Krista

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