Saturday, December 14, 2013

Advent Devotional Day 14: The No-Frills Baby

December 14:

B.C. verse: Luke 2: 6-7
A.D. verse: I Peter 1: 13-16
Christmas hymn: “Silent Night”
Hymn for today: “He is With Us” by Love and the Outcome

My nephew and his wife are just days away from becoming new parents. Mandi is due on December 22, but if looks are an indicator, that baby should arrive any time (and Mandi hopes it is sooner rather than later).

Their baby will be the first grandchild and great-grandchild on our side of the family, so to this child’s birth has been anticipated would be an understatement.

Just as soon as the pregnancy was confirmed, plans for the arrival began in earnest. The young couple purchased a fixer-upper farm place in June of 2012 and has spent the last year in completing various home improvement projects, one of which was the baby’s nursery.

For many months, the crib has been ready and waiting to be filled. The walls are pink as it has been confirmed that “Baby K” is a girl. The décor has established that Baby K will like owls as the critters have been thematically included in every facet of her room. Not surprisingly, Baby K’s closet is already filled to bursting with frocks and frills meant for little girls. Strollers, pack-and-plays, and other equipment stand at attention, awaiting the special cargo that will fill them.

The planning and preparation is complete. Hurry up, Baby K; there are a lot of people waiting for you.

Long ago, there was another baby who was long-anticipated and eagerly-awaited. However, the preparation and supplies for this baby were not as elaborate and overwhelming as Baby K’s.  “[Mary] gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them “(Luke 2:7).

The birth of “Baby K” signals the start of a new generation, the birth of a new era. The birth of “Baby J” signaled much the same thing in terms of a spiritual family. “Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world” (I Peter 1:14).

Rather than be born in a royal palace, the King of the World, the Joy of our Salvation, the Mighty God entered simply and humbly. There were no grand preparations or celebrations; it occurred exactly as He ordained – in a stable with a trough for a bed and rags for clothes.  His birth is his first lesson to us as He begins his interim as a human, for, like him, his birth was holy, which means “specified or set apart for a religious purpose.”  Thus, our thoughts and actions should be likewise. “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy” (I Peter 1:15).

Just as Christ’s birth was humble and simple, so should our faith be. We don’t need frilly theology, elaborate devotionals, or well-prepared prayers; we just need a humble heart, a willing spirit, and undiluted faith.
  

Daily Challenge: Mail a handwritten note or card to the first person you thought of when you read this.

No comments:

Post a Comment