Mary and Joseph could find "no room at the inn." Pastor Adam posed an interesting - and likely - scenario in his teaching. They had traveled to Joseph's own hometown. Likely family lived there. Was there really limited room with relatives or at any of the inns? Could it be more about rumors and scandal regarding an unmarried and pregnant Mary?
Then consider what you see in a nativity scene. There is typically some type of animal shelter with a feeding trough in it. In the paradox of paradoxes, the Son of God came into the world as the lowliest and most helpless: an infant who can do absolutely nothing for themself. He is born amongst the smells and activities of livestock and shepherds. Even the shepherds in attendance were the bottom on the shepherd social scale because they had night duty. Yet, these shepherds were the first to hear the good news.
As you consider the nativity scene, perhaps you get a sense of belonging. There the plain, the ordinary, the lowly, the smelly, the scandalous were all together. We need a savior. No matter what state we are in: plain, ordinary, left or right, baptist or methodist, black or white, single or married. And the good news of the gospel is that Jesus was born for EVERYONE. Out of our great mess comes the great MESSiah.
INVITATION: Pastor Adam introduced another character into the nativity scene this morning: a dragon! What is that all about? Find out in this week's Bible study.
MONDAY: 2 Cor. 5:14-15: Christ died for everyone. His love is the first and the last word. Is this the first and last word in your life? How does this give your life meaning and purpose?
TUESDAY: John 10:10: Satan lives to "steal, kill and destroy." Sometimes we think of only the huge and obvious ways this occurs: wars, crime, etc. But consider how it might be subtly (or not so subtly) playing out in your life: distraction, busy-ness, anger. How might the evil one be seeking to "steal, kill or destroy" in your life with Jesus? Remember, he masquerades as an "angel of light" as part of the deception and he communicates through lies. What lies might you be believing in your life? About your worth? About God's faithfulness? About eternity?
WEDNESDAY: Revelation 12:1-3: Keeping in mind the book of Revelation is often very symbolic and written from a spiritual and eternal realm as opposed to necessarily being linear, Pastor Adam suggested there likely was a "dragon" at the birth of Jesus as well. We don't often seen that in our nativity scenes, do we? Yet the one who does not want us to experience fullness of life was most certainly present at the birth of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And, he is present in your life and in my life. How might you pray for protection today? Have you ever considered that prayers of protection might be a regular practice in your life with God? We cannot sense and know the workings of this "angel of light" without the help of the Holy Spirit.
THURSDAY: Revelation 12:7-11: Paul said to the Corinthians, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. We we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Cor. 4:16-18). In light of this and of this vision of God's victory in Jesus Christ, reflect today on some event in your life from the past week. Did you perceive that event in terms of the impossible circumstances of the situation, or did you see it in the light of God's sure victory in Christ? How could you have lived it out differently? What lies ahead of you today? How do you think it looks through God's eyes?
FRIDAY: Revelation 12:12: Satan's time is short. That is why he is so busy now. How might that affect your prayer life?
SATURDAY: Revelation 12:17: This is the Christmas story from a spiritual standpoint. There IS an enemy and he knows his time is short and is making war. Yet we have been promised that God will "never leave us or forsake us." How can you begin to live clinging more closely to the promises of God in your life to help sense and fight off the one who seeks to "steal, kill and destroy" you?