DAY FOUR

Day Four

Displaced because of the census, Mary and Joseph are being housed with the animals. Mary has just given birth to Jesus, and as she swaddles her newborn son, she lays him in a makeshift bed – a manger.

This is our first glimpse of Jesus, the King of Kings and Creator of the world, veiled in human flesh, and he’s lying in a manger. The manger is an ordinary feeding trough. Mary and Joseph do their best to clean it up, but it’s still a dirty feeding trough and certainly not fit for a king.

But when the manger holds Jesus, it becomes repurposed, renewed, and holy! It is transformed by the presence of God. In an instant, it goes from being ordinary to extraordinary. From holding animal food to cradling the bread of life (see John 6:35). From meeting unremarkable needs to fulfilling the divine purposes of God.

Like the manger, we aren’t fit for the King. We can’t clean ourselves up enough to stand in God’s presence. But this is exactly what Jesus does for us. His presence cleans, purifies, and transforms.

When Jesus comes into your life, he makes you holy. He sets you apart for the beautiful purposes of God. He turns the ordinary things you do into extraordinary things done for him.

You aren’t just taking care of your family; you are God’s provision for your family’s physical and emotional needs. You aren’t just going to work; you are God’s revelation of hope and love to the people you work with. You aren’t just having coffee with friends; you are God’s faithfulness and compassion, pointing them to Jesus.

God isn’t repelled by the dirt in your life or embarrassed by your ordinariness. When he sees you, he sees a manger – a perfect place for him to dwell and for the world to catch a glimpse of who he really is!

Prayer

Jesus, there is nothing I can do to make myself worthy of your presence. Yet you choose to dwell with me. Thank you for loving me so much and for making me holy. May my life give you the honor you deserve.