Manger Throne නියැදිය

By sight, Bethlehem looks like a small unimportant town.

By faith, we see it as the location chosen by God where heaven would touch earth.

By sight, the whole scene out back behind the inn looks rather lowly and pitiful.

By faith, we see it as something sacred and beautiful.

By sight, Mary looks like just another teen mother and Joseph just another nervous father.

By faith, we see her as the one woman in all of history to receive such a unique and high blessing from heaven and we see him as a heroic and courageous man of great trust.

By sight, we see a feeding trough for animals.

By faith, we see a throne for the newly arrived king from on high.

By sight, Jesus appears to be just another baby.

By faith, we know: THIS IS GOD!

He is the eternal one. The ruler who spoke this world into creation. The one who knew what would lead up to this night and what lay in store after this night. Though to our eyes, He seemed meek and mild, by faith we know that even in those first moments of His time on earth, He is fully God.

(Prayer)

Almighty King of the Universe,

When You first opened Your human eyes and looked up, You weren’t just beholding a mother’s face, You were beholding someone You had designed and created. Even the hands that were cradling You were hands that You had crafted with unique fingerprints. As You felt her warm breath on Your cheek, You knew it was a breath that You had just granted her. As You looked above her, You saw stars You had set in place. When You cried out as a baby, this planet was again hearing the voice that had spoken it into being.

May I never hear the Christmas story and think of You as less than who You are. Looking upon your nativity, this is my confession: You are God and You are my God.

Amen.